The SHARKnowledge initiative, developed by CIESM and its dedicated team of international experts, leverages the Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) of Mediterranean fishers to improve our understanding of shark populations. Fishers possess first-hand insights into species distribution, abundance, and seasonal behavior, particularly for rare or elusive species that often escape traditional scientific surveys.
This participatory science project is being conducted in Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Italy, Libya, Tunisia, and Türkiye, where national experts engage local fishers through structured interviews and sightings mapping.
The collected data is standardized and analyzed to reconstruct historical trends, identify critical habitats (hotspots, nurseries), and assess the perceptions and socio-economic impact of sharks in coastal communities. SHARKnowledge provides essential scientific input for conservation policies, bridging the gap between traditional knowledge and modern marine research.
This project builds on the recognition that fishers, through their daily interaction with the marine environment, hold a remarkable and often untapped wealth of ecological knowledge. Their insights into the distribution, abundance, seasonality, and behavior of sharks including rare or elusive species represent a valuable complement to scientific research. By fostering trust and transparent collaboration with fishing communities, SHARKnowledge enables the monitoring of shark species across national boundaries.
Developed in close partnership with Dr. Ernesto Azzurro (ISPRA, Italy / Chair of the CIESM Committee), the initiative draws inspiration from the CIESM Tropical Signals Program, whose methods have been adapted and refined to suit the needs of this study.
Carefully selected national experts from seven Mediterranean countries, Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Italy, Libya, Tunisia, and Türkiye. It will conduct structured interviews with fishers. Using questionnaires and sightings mapping, they will document observations on shark presence, behavior, and abundance.
