This new initiative, carried out by GEN-GOB with funding from IbizaPreservation and in collaboration with WWF , SOLDECOCOS and the University of Oviedo , will use innovative environmental DNA identification techniques.
Ibiza, December 10, 2024 – The conservation NGO GEN-GOB , with funding from the foundation IbizaPreservation and WWF Spain, the collaboration of the Ajuntament de Sant Josep de sa Talaia, and the support of the NGO SOLDECOCOS and the University of Oviedo, is carrying out a new research campaign in the waters of Ibiza and Formentera to study the biodiversity of sharks and rays.
Through the use of environmental DNA techniques, known as eDNA (“environmental DNA”) in English , this study aims to “obtain crucial data on these species that, in many cases, are endangered or little known”, said Xisco Sobrado, coordinator of the Marine area of GEN-GOB.
Environmental DNA is a technique based on the collection of environmental samples, in this case seawater samples, since all animals leave cellular remains in the environment in which they live. These water samples will be analysed at the University of Oviedo to identify the genetic material released by sharks and rays in their natural habitat. This innovative non-invasive methodology will allow us to obtain a detailed view of the distribution of these species in the waters of Ibiza and Formentera. “Using environmental DNA we can detect elusive, scarce and/or difficult to monitor species , which is key to advancing knowledge of the distribution of many species of sharks and rays,” explained Laura Miralles, professor at the University of Oviedo.
The study began last week on board a research vessel that travelled through various Marine Protected Areas of Ibiza and Formentera to collect and filter water samples. These will be sent to a genetics laboratory at the University of Oviedo, where they will be analysed. The results are expected to be obtained in approximately three months.
“The lack of information on these species makes their conservation and management difficult,” added Inma Saranova, executive director of IbizaPreservation, who also explained that, “With this study, we seek to fill this knowledge gap, providing a solid scientific basis for making decisions that contribute to the conservation of these species.”
The Balearic Sea, which includes the waters surrounding Ibiza and Formentera, is a biodiversity hotspot in the Mediterranean . The Marine Protected Areas of the region, which encompass critical ecosystems, require “effective management that includes the conservation of sharks and rays.” “This project aims to support these initiatives, improving understanding of the species that inhabit these areas and the threats they face,” said Raúl García of WWF Spain.
This new project also seeks to provide information to the fishing sector and local agents in the monitoring and conservation of these species: “Collaboration between scientists, NGOs, the fishing sector and administrations is key to ensuring the conservation of shark and ray populations in the region,” insisted Jorge Sáez of SOLDECOCOS.
The results of the study will be shared with collaborating entities and the general public through reports and outreach activities, once available, with the aim of raising awareness in the community about the importance of conserving these species and the marine ecosystems in which they live.
