The Fundació Marilles has condemned the deaths of several bluntnose sixgill sharks in Balearic waters and has called on the fishing fleet, especially trawlers, to put an end to practices it considers incompatible with marine conservation and with the image of the Balearic fishing industry.
The environmental organisation warned on Tuesday of the appearance of two bluntnose sixgill sharks (Hexanchus griseus) in Cala Nova with “cuts to the neck and backbone” — injuries which, it says, are common in such cases and suggest that the animals were killed once brought on board.
Marilles points out that similar incidents have already occurred in other parts of Mallorca, such as Can Pere Antoni, Puerto Portals and El Molinar. “There is still a minority of fishermen who, instead of releasing these animals, choose to kill them,” the foundation lamented in a statement.
The organisation explains that the sixgill shark is commonly found in the deep waters around the archipelago and is often caught accidentally by trawlers operating along the continental slope. Although it acknowledges that releasing the animals can be difficult, it believes there are alternatives that could prevent these deaths.
In this regard, Marilles is calling for all vessels to be equipped with live-animal release protocols and for accidental catches of sharks and rays to be recorded in order to improve conservation measures.
The foundation is also urging the authorities to speed up approval for preventive systems already developed by the Balearic fleet itself. Among them is a heavy-duty net that acts as a barrier within the trawl gear and would prevent large animals from becoming trapped at the end of the net.
According to the organisation, incidents of this kind “undermine” the efforts made by much of the Balearic fishing sector to move towards a more sustainable activity, with fewer fishing days and greater protection for marine resources.
Marilles also notes that more than half of Mediterranean shark and ray species are threatened and warns that the disappearance of these animals would have direct consequences for the balance of marine ecosystems.