It has been classified as a “critically endangered species”, and might disappear from our waters before most Maltese were even aware of its presence to begin with.
And yet the “Maltese skate” (Leucoraja melitensis) is but one of a number of species of chimaera – the cartilaginous fish family which includes sharks and rays – to face possible extinction on account of over-fishing and loss of natural habitat in the Mediterranean.
Other species now considered on the brink of extinction include the porbeagle shark (“pixxiplamptu” in Maltese), the Mediterranean manta (also known as “devil ray” on account of its fearsome appearance) and the short-finned mako shark.
The alarm has been raised by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), which last week published the first complete “Red List” assessment of the status of Mediterranean sharks and rays. The prognostics for the survival of the sea’s most feared inhabitant are not at all pretty: 42% (30 species) are classified as “Threatened”, of which 18% are “Critically Endangered”, 11% “Endangered” and 13% “Vulnerable”.
Another 18% (13 species) were assessed as “Near Threatened” while a lack of information led to 26% (18 species) being classified as “Data Deficient”. Only 14% (10 species) are considered to be of “Least Concern”.
Explaining its findings, the IUCN warned that the Mediterranean has the highest percentage of threatened sharks in the world.
Admittedly, Malta may not be foremost among the fishing nations responsible for this decline. But as a country which has lent its name to one of the more endangered species, what are we doing to save sharks and rays from being fished out of existence?
Dr Anthony Grupetta, director general of the veterinary regulator regarding fisheries, conservation and control, explains that Malta no longer has any fisheries specifically targeting sharks, although this was not always the case in the past.
“Local fishermen do catch sharks, but mainly as a by-catch while fishing for other species,” Grupetta explains, adding that up until a few years ago Maltese fishermen used to use “ormeggios”: a system consisting of a long line attached to a buoy, with large hooks baited specifically for sharks.
“The authorities have since stopped issuing licenses for this type of fishing,” Dr Grupetta points out. “Today, the only licensed ormeggios in use are fitted with smaller hooks, and baited only for swordfish.”
The fishing practice most to blame for the decline is “shark finning”, whereby fishermen simply cut off the tail and dorsal fin of a landed shark, and throw the rest back into the sea. Dr Grupetta describes this as “a very wasteful practice”, and adds that it has since been banned across Europe. However, as Maltese fishermen were never shark finners to begin with, the ban did not result in any immediate changes to local fishing practices.
“When regulations were issued regarding shark conservation, Malta did not actually have to do anything as our fisheries were already in line,” Dr Grupetta continues. “But this doesn’t mean we did nothing at all. In fact the environment department has published all the necessary regulations, which include a ban on fishing for certain species of shark.”
On another level, Malta also translated the IUU Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing into Maltese, becoming one of only six EU countries to have transposed the legislation into its own language.
Alex Buttigieg, a local shark enthusiast and member of the Shark Alliance – an international coalition of 42 conservation, scientific, diving and fishing organizations united by a common interest in sharks – confirms that Malta’s legislation is in full conformity with European Union regulations. But he feels that these regulations are insufficient to protect the vast array of shark species now under threat.
“The only sharks and rays to be protected by law in Malta are the Great White, the Basking shark and the Mediterranean manta,” Buttigieg told MaltaToday. But in reality the list of endangered species is much greater, and there is no legislation yet in place for their protection. “These include the spiny dogfish, the porbeagle and a number of species of angel sharks. All have become very rare in the Med.”
Last Monday, Alex Buttigieg came back from Brussels, where he participated in the ongoing talks in preparation for a new EU protocol for the protection of “elasmabranches” – as the cartilage fish family which includes sharks is known to scientists. Among the measures the Shark Alliance would like to see in place are the introduction of catch limits for fished species of Mediterranean sharks and rays; more enforcement against shark finning; and that all eight of the shark and ray species listed on the four international conventions relevant to Mediterranean wildlife conservation are actually protected, instead of only three.
“The EU should not wait for the rest of the world before passing the necessary laws to protect these species”, Buttigieg commented to MaltaToday.

rvassallo@mediatoday.com.mt