<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Historically, two angel shark species, common angel shark <italic>Squatina squatina</italic> and smoothback angel shark <italic>Squatina oculata</italic>, were common in the upper continental shelf of the eastern Adriatic Sea. Although both species are considered critically endangered in the Adriatic and the rest of the world, there are almost no data on the current status of populations, threat assessment and species-specific in-situ conservation. Common angel shark is still present in highly fragmented areas of the eastern Adriatic with extremely rare but consistent records, while smoothback angel shark is mostly considered regionally extinct in the Adriatic due to overfishing and overuse of non-selective fishing gear. There have been only 3 published records of common angel shark this century, the last two of which were reported by fishermen. This paper presents data on 34 new finds, including neonates, juveniles, subadults and adults recorded between January 2020 and August 2021 in the Zadar-Šibenik archipelago (central Adriatic) and one in Premantura (northern Adriatic). Two are original findings during the field expedition, 9 were reported directly by local fishermen, while 23 were reported through a detailed questionnaire. Additionally, plausible breeding and/or nursery grounds between Zadar and Šibenik are discussed with their importance for revitalization and long-term conservation in situ.</p>
</abstract>

Historically, two angel shark species, common angel shark Squatina squatina and smoothback angel shark Squatina oculata, were common in the upper continental shelf of the eastern Adriatic Sea. Although both species are considered critically endangered in the Adriatic and the rest of the world, there are almost no data on the current status of populations, threat assessment and species-specific in-situ conservation. Common angel shark is still present in highly fragmented areas of the eastern Adriatic with extremely rare but consistent records, while smoothback angel shark is mostly considered regionally extinct in the Adriatic due to overfishing and overuse of non-selective fishing gear. There have been only 3 published records of common angel shark this century, the last two of which were reported by fishermen. This paper presents data on 34 new finds, including neonates, juveniles, subadults and adults recorded between January 2020 and August 2021 in the Zadar-Šibenik archipelago (central Adriatic) and one in Premantura (northern Adriatic). Two are original findings during the field expedition, 9 were reported directly by local fishermen, while 23 were reported through a detailed questionnaire. Additionally, plausible breeding and/or nursery grounds between Zadar and Šibenik are discussed with their importance for revitalization and long-term conservation in situ.

New Hope for the Critically Endangered Common Angel Shark <italic>Squatina squatina</italic> in the Adriatic Sea

Croatian Journal of Fisheries

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

New Hope for the Critically Endangered Common Angel Shark  in the Adriatic Sea

Historically, two angel shark species, common angel shark Squatina squatina and smoothback angel shark Squatina oculata, were common in the upper continental...

New Hope for the Critically Endangered Common Angel Shark Squatina squatina in the Adriatic Sea

Published Online: Feb 27, 2022

Page range: 1 - 6

Received: Oct 01, 2021

Accepted: Nov 20, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cjf-2022-0001

Keywords
Adriatic, angel shark, conservation, endangered, breeding

© 2022 Andrej A. Gajić, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

New Hope for the Critically Endangered Common Angel Shark Squatina squatina in the Adriatic Sea

Published Online: Feb 27, 2022

Page range: 1 - 6

Received: Oct 01, 2021

Accepted: Nov 20, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cjf-2022-0001

KeywordsAdriatic, angel shark, conservation, endangered, breeding

© 2022 Andrej A. Gajić, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Adriatic, angel shark, conservation, endangered, breeding