Angelsharks in the Mediterranean - Online Workshop for Range States

The Angelshark (Squatina squatina) was assessed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered and has been listed on both the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks (Sharks MOU).

The Parties to CMS and Signatories to the Sharks MOU agreed that there should be support for improved regional management across the Mediterranean Sea, with Angelsharks also listed under the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention).

This initial workshop, being organized by the Secretariat and Advisory Committee (AC) of the Sharks MOU, aims to provide further information on the current state of knowledge of Angelsharks and recent work regarding their conservation. It is envisaged to lay the foundation for the implementation of the Concerted Action for the Angelshark (Concerted Action 12.5 (Rev.COP13)) that was extended at COP13.

The workshop will be held three times on the following three different dates to provide as many Focal Points and relevant stakeholders the opportunity to participate:

- 15 April 2021, 13.00 – 14.30 UTC
- 21 April 2021, 13.00 – 14.30 UTC
- 27 April 2021, 13.00 – 14.30 UTC

Angelshark Range States from the Mediterranean Sea region, are expected to agree a process and timeline for the development of a regional Single Species Action Plan for the Angelshark under CMS. Non-Party Range States are invited to particpate in this process as well.   

Subsequent online meetings for CMS Parties and Signatories to the Sharks MoU will be hosted to provide an improved forum to facilitate further discussions on the implementation of the Concerted Action Plan.

Given that Angelsharks are a species of biodiversity interest and also interact with fisheries, Focal Points are encouraged to facilitate the involvement of policy staff from both biodiversity and fisheries departments as appropriate.  

Focal Points are therefore kindly requested to inform the Secretariat which additional experts and government representatives should be invited to the workshop. For this purpose, the Secretariat has included a dedicated field in the online registration form which Focal Points may use for their suggestions.

Online registration