Nominated by...
The Project
The Mediterranean is one of the world’s hotspots of biodiversity but three quarters of its sharks and rays are on the Red List of Endangered Species. The nursehound catshark is one of those, having suffered in some areas an astonishing 99% decline. The Stellaris project works to protect its largest known nursery (offshore Naples, Italy) by restoring the habitat - plagued with lost fishing lines threatening sharks and all marine life - and building more sustainable diving and fishing tourism. With help from EOCA, this project will conduct two years of regular seafloor clean-ups, increase outreach and organise an annual public event of fun dives and shark talks, where volunteer divers will remove lost fishing gear and marine litter. The project will also monitor the babies' progress as they develop for 8 months into tiny sharks and involve fishers and authorities to ensure protection of their parents
