For the first time after 7 years of research: the farthest movement of a fin shark has been identified: from Israel to Sicily

"This is the farthest movement recorded so far in the Mediterranean of a fin shark. Sharks we tagged here in Israel reached Cyprus and Egypt, but we never had evidence of a long journey to Italy." This is an endangered species

The wandering fin... Researchers at the Leon Charney School of Marine Sciences at the University of Haifa received a particularly surprising signal: the "Hagi" shark is found in the area of ​​the island of Sicily. "This is the farthest movement recorded so far in the Mediterranean of a fin shark. Sharks we have tagged here in Israel have reached Cyprus and Egypt, but we have never had evidence of a long journey to Italy. The finfish population is in danger of extinction in the Mediterranean Sea and the new information is important for the actions to protect it," said Dr. Aviad Sheinin, head of the super carnivore field at the Maurice Kahn Marine Research Station of the University of Haifa.

Researchers at the Maurice Kahn Mediterranean Research Station of the Leon Charney School of Marine Sciences at the University of Haifa are monitoring and tagging sharks for the seventh season at this time of the year. As part of the long-term ecological research on shark populations, researchers measure DNA, blood parameters, their bacterial community, reproductive status, and more, with some sharks tagged with a special acoustic tag that allows researchers to examine their movement along the various beaches.

Last May, the investigators tagged "Hagi" with a satellite tag and he left Hadera on May 14.5.2021, XNUMX. According to Dr. Sheinin, apart from their research data, there is very little information about the movement of the Sanpitrans in the Mediterranean Sea. According to their tagging so far, they saw that the sharks reached Cyprus or Egypt, and were surprised to see "Hagi" reach as far as Sicily. Since the researchers now know that the finfishes reach at least as far as Italy, conservation efforts for the species will require addressing issues of legislation, enforcement, etc. in a wider number of countries.