The blue shark or tintorera, an animal that lives far from the coast and moves around the planet, has a stable reproduction area in the Cap de Creus canyon. This is confirmed by the studies initiated by the Climate Action Department in collaboration with the Sotamar and CatShark diving center. The monitoring of this animal is part of an evaluation program aimed at identifying the most important habitats for sharks in Catalonia and determining the basic guidelines for their conservation.
The first works have delimited the places in the Cap de Creus canyon that serve as breeding grounds for the blue shark ( Prionace glauca ). Between late spring and mid-August 2023, 10 young of this species were found there, located on different days, which confirms that the site serves as an active breeding area. Births occur between mid-June and mid-July. At these dates, the young that move freely in the marine environment are no more than 35-45 cm and are already capable of fending for themselves. After giving birth, most adult sharks leave these waters from the first days of July.
The species of sharks that live in Catalonia, such as the tintorera, live in the open sea and in deep water. That is why the approaches to the summer coast were surprising. On June 23, 2023, the presence of two dry cleaners forced the placing of the red flag and the closure of the beaches of Martinenca, Maricel and Marjal, in Alcanar (Tarragona). At the beginning of July, two specimens appeared on Portbou beach. They have also been seen in the waters of the Valencian and Balearic coasts.
The blue shark is one of the 70 species of sharks and rays that live in the Mediterranean. In the waters of Catalonia there are 26 species of sharks, a significant part of which are in danger of extinction or in a critical state, as is the case of the tintorera.
The Department of Climate Action has announced that it wants to expand on-site knowledge about these species through surveillance from boats, with attractors and direct observation (filming and photography).
A study carried out by European researchers from different countries, through which dozens of dry cleaners were marked with satellite transmitters, showed that it is extremely rare for these animals to approach waters less than 100 meters deep. Most of the specimens that are observed very occasionally on the beaches are usually animals that arrive on the coast injured or sick. All this means that there is not enough information available on aspects such as the number of specimens that make up the populations of each species, the selection of the habitat or how they relate to each other and to other species, among other data.
The Catalan Government is now announcing a conservation study that will allow the development of a census and interannual monitoring system and follow-up to determine the status of threatened species. With this aim in mind, the Department is starting to collaborate with the teams currently working with sharks in Catalonia. This second phase of the study will be carried out throughout 2024 and will have a budget of 50,000 euros.
The information will serve not only to develop plans to conserve the species that need it and to locate the important areas for their preservation, but also to develop material and management protocols in cases of sharks approaching the coast.
The blue shark has become a commercial species as a result of regulations on other species. Sharks used to be caught by accident. But restrictions on tuna or emperor fish led the fishing sector to supplement catches with sharks. In recent years, the presence of blue shark or shark has become relatively common in the frozen sections of supermarkets and large distribution brands.
For years, the regional fisheries organization Iccat did not set fishing quotas for sharks (they were not a target species), and when it finally did, it was too late. In the Mediterranean, the decline of the dyerora, for example, is estimated at 96%. Iccat has set some limits on the fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic. However, this does not prevent both the blue shark and the marraix from being caught in other seas (Pacific or Indian), where there is a lack of regulation to protect them, as reported by Oceana.
