Greek Gulf Now a Nursery for 10 Shark Species

Marine scientist Roxani Naasan Aga-Spyridopoulou rides along with fishers in the chilly night air, watching for something special among the striped prawns hauled up in nets. When sharks and rays appear tangled in the catch, she springs into action to save them.

The Amvrakikos Gulf, located 250 kilometers northwest of Athens, turns out to be a biodiversity hotspot hiding in plain sight. Fresh water from two rivers mixes with seawater from the Ionian Sea, creating unusual circulation patterns that foster incredible marine life.

More than half of the 300 small-scale fishers working these waters now participate in the By ElasmoCatch conservation project. They welcome scientists aboard to collect vital data on sharks and rays caught accidentally in their nets.

As the sun rises over steep hills surrounding the gulf, Naasan Aga-Spyridopoulou carefully lifts these ocean dwellers from between the prawns. She places each one in an oxygenated tank for 40 minutes, scoring their health and movements to measure survival rates.

The numbers bring real hope. When handled correctly, short-term survival rates exceed 95% for some species, proving that a little care goes a long way.

She then measures each animal's size and weight, determines sex and maturity when possible, and attaches a dart tag with a unique code and phone number. Fishers and locals can call in when they spot these tagged creatures later, helping track long-term survival.

"When I disentangle a shark or a ray from the nets I feel both responsibility and awe," says Naasan Aga-Spyridopoulou. "Its survival depends on careful handling."

Over four years, at least 361 animals have been tagged and released. The common smooth-hound shark shows especially high recapture rates, suggesting these animals thrive after their brief encounter with science.

The Ripple Effect

Before this project began in 2022, scientists had confirmed only two shark and ray species in the gulf based mainly on local fishing stories. Now they've documented ten species, including two listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

"Until recently, nobody knew this gulf was a nursery for sharks and rays," Naasan Aga-Spyridopoulou explains. This 400-square-kilometer area turned out to hold remarkable diversity for such a small space.

The discovery means conservationists can now push for better protections for this crucial habitat. The data collected from fisher partnerships is already supporting new protection efforts in the region.

At release, Naasan Aga-Spyridopoulou feels she's done what she can, and now life will take its course for these ancient ocean survivors.