The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has released an assessment providing information on taxonomy, distribution, status, statistics, fisheries, bycatch, biologic and ecologic parameters on age and growth, food and feeding habits, reproductive biology and stock assessment of elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
11 February 2013: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has released an assessment providing information on taxonomy, distribution, status, statistics, fisheries, bycatch, biologic and ecologic parameters on age and growth, food and feeding habits, reproductive biology and stock assessment of elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
The study, published by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), is titled “Elasmobranchs of the Mediterranean and Black Sea: Status, Ecology and Biology.” It features sections on: the main characteristics of the GFCM marine area; biodiversity of elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean and Black Sea; elasmobranchs fisheries in the GFCM area; dynamic populations and stock assessment of elasmobranchs/abundance indices; available biologic parameters on elasmobranchs in the GFCM area; and conservation measures for elasmobranchs.
The study concludes by outlining the following research programmes and conservation priorities for sharks in the region: developing research programmes on systematic, general biology, ecology and population dynamics for species of concern; identifying and mapping critical habitats; taking action to collect reliable statistics on landings and bycatch of elasmobranchs; initiating fisheries management strategies for commercially exploited species; developing research programmes to reduce elasmobranchs bycatch; and developing National Action Plans as recommended by the FAO International Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IPOA)–Sharks. [Publication: Elasmobranchs of the Mediterranean and Black Sea] [FAO Press Release]