The conclusions of the Biodiversity Conference are included in the Action Plan for the Conservation of Sharks and Rays by the Balearic Government

The proposal, which aims to protect and restore elasmobranch populations in the archipelago, is currently under review. 

Marilles participated in the second meeting of the Elasmobranch Expert Group. In this meeting, which is part of the Balearic Strategy for Sharks and Rays of the Balearic Government, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Environment presented the proposal for the Elasmobranch Conservation Action Plan for the Balearic Islands.

The Action Plan is based on proposals from the first Expert Group meeting, held in September 2024, and also on the conclusions

from the Marine Biodiversity Conference organised by Marilles in November 2024. It is structured into six main areas of action, broken down into 17 specific activities to be implemented in the short, medium, and long term.

The plan aims to improve knowledge and identification skills of these protected species, both among professional fishers and within the recreational fishing sector. This will be done through informational campaigns, training for fishers, studies on chondrichthyan biology and catches, support for fishing sector initiatives, and more.

Another line of action seeks to reduce accidental catches of vulnerable species through active collaboration with the fishing sector, while also promoting proper handling and safe release of captured specimens.

To ensure the effectiveness of the plan's measures, the government has stated it is essential to strengthen surveillance and control tasks, both in internal and external waters. This includes specific training for surveillance agents in identifying protected species, developing response protocols for violations, and coordinating among competent authorities, including the Directorate-General for Fisheries, the Fisheries Surveillance Corps, and the Civil Guard.

The Biodiversity Sessions: a space to generate proposals 

Aniol Esteban: “The Marilles Foundation delivered the conclusions of the Marine Biodiversity Conference to the government with the intention that they serve as a roadmap for preserving habitats and species as essential to the Balearic Sea as sharks and rays. We are pleased that the Executive has taken into account the action lines developed by leading experts in this field, and we hope the plan receives sufficient budgetary support.’

This year, Marilles is organising a new cycle of Biodiversity Sessions, which will take place during the month of October. On 16 October, the focus will be on effective protection in the Balearic Sea; on 23 October, the focus will be on marine mammal conservation; and on 30 October, the focus will be on the impacts, causes, and solutions related to water quality. The goal of these sessions is to generate proposals for the conservation of vulnerable marine ecosystems in the Balearic Sea through knowledge exchange and joint action.

The SARKO Project: protecting elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean 

In 2025, Marilles launched the SARKO project, aimed at improving the conservation status of shark and ray populations in the Balearic Islands and the Spanish Mediterranean. With a €600,000 budget, this initiative seeks to build a solid scientific basis and collaborate with key stakeholders, such as fishers, to ensure the survival of these at-risk organisms. In addition, it works jointly with regional and national policymakers to turn this data into effective management measures.

SARKO complements and adds value to the Shark and Ray Conservation Strategy of the Balearic Islands Government, and many of the objectives and actions outlined in the Balearic action plan are aligned with SARKO’s strategy within the Spanish Mediterranean.