In June 2025, CIESM carried out a shark tagging campaign in the Adriatic Sea, coordinated by Prof. Alen Soldo (University of Split, Croatia). The mission marked a significant milestone for the CIESM Shark Tracking Program, focusing on improving scientific understanding of large pelagic shark movements in the Mediterranean.
The Gulf of Iskenderun, recently identified as a major breeding and nursery ground for sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus), was selected as a priority site for the deployment of the first CIESM satellite tags. The campaign aimed to capture and tag individual sharks to track their movements over several months, generating critical data for the scientific community in the urgent context of Mediterranean biodiversity conservation.
A blue shark (Prionace glauca), one of the most widespread yet vulnerable oceanic species was successfully equipped with a pop-up satellite archival tag (PSAT). Following a selective tagging protocol, only individuals exceeding one metre in length were tagged to ensure proper attachment and reliable long-distance data transmission. This methodology, still rarely implemented in the Mediterranean, allows long-term monitoring of highly mobile species across regional boundaries.
The tagged blue shark was released safely after handling and will provide high-resolution positional and environmental data as soon as transmissions begin. These results will significantly enhance knowledge of the species’ spatial ecology and migratory routes within the Adriatic basin.
In addition to the tagging success, the team documented several other pelagic species during the survey, including pelagic stingrays, loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), blackspotted smooth-hounds (Mustelus punctulatus), common smooth-hounds (M. mustelus), and nursehounds (Scyliorhinus stellaris). All individuals were examined, measured, and safely released.
This field campaign was made possible through the close collaboration of local fishers, who provided logistical support aboard their vessels, and through coordination with Croatian and CIESM scientists. The collected data will help fill critical gaps in regional shark ecology and support ongoing conservation efforts for endangered pelagic species in the Mediterranean, a region facing rapid biodiversity decline.