More Shark Than Cat: 19 Young Large-Spotted Catsharks Released into the Wild

More Shark Than Cat: 19 Young Large-Spotted Catsharks Released into the Wild

A breeding program relies on captive breeding, research and local partners

In the early morning, as seagulls circled over Port Adriano and the water still carried the coolness of the night, 19 young catsharks swam back into the open sea. The animals come from controlled breeding and were released in recent days at a coastal site off Mallorca. The action is part of a local conservation project that has been running since 2021.

The released animals belong to the species Scyliorhinus stellaris, the large-spotted catshark. For locals this is one of the familiar species along the rocky coasts; divers know their typical hiding places in caves and crevices. Catsharks rarely grow larger than 1.60 meters, are nocturnal and harmless to humans. Nevertheless, they are threatened here, primarily by unintended bycatch in fisheries, a concern underlined by incidents such as Dead Shark on the City Beach: What the Large Wound Reveals About Mallorca.

Behind the action are two local actors that have repeatedly worked together in recent years: a conservation organization focusing on marine protection and a foundation that also runs the aquarium. With the support of a dive center and the marina, the juveniles were acclimated to their new environment and carefully released into the open water. According to the project managers, more than 300 juveniles have already been successfully released since the project began in 2021.

What stands out about the operation is the mix of practice and research: the animals are scientifically monitored during the initial phase to document their behavior after release. Such data help to better plan future releases and increase survival chances. In addition, the measure is part of a broader strategy to stabilize population development in the western Mediterranean.

For Mallorca this has several positive aspects. Healthy populations of marine creatures are not an abstract value; they affect fish stocks, the ecosystem of seagrass meadows and people's relationship with the sea. Anyone who meets a fisherman on the Passeig Mallorca early in the morning who talks about catch volumes quickly realizes that long-term perspectives are also economically important. A visible conservation project makes this connection tangible.

A small change in mindset can already be observed in the neighbourhood: between cafés where delivery vans arrive and the sound of motorboats, people are talking about more sustainable fishing methods. Dive schools notice that guests are interested in the wildlife around the island; sometimes observers stand by the boat hull and listen to the guides' explanations. Such everyday moments are important because they bring marine conservation from theory into daily life.

The initiators emphasize that breeding and release alone do not perform miracles. Continued attention to fishing methods, protected areas and research is needed, especially in light of recent strandings such as Dead Shark at the Paseo: A Wake-up Call for Better Coastal Protection in Palma. Those who want to help can find several opportunities in Mallorca: volunteer work in beach clean-ups, supporting local conservation groups or attending lectures at the aquarium are simple ways to get involved. Divers can also report observations that help scientists better understand distribution and behaviour.

The 19 juveniles are not a big spectacle that fills headlines, but a quiet step of hope. If you stand by the sea on a windless evening, you are more likely to hear the distant hum of a boat engine than applause. Nevertheless, such actions are palpable: they build networks of research, local business and committed people. And they serve as a reminder that Mallorca is not only beaches and promenades, but a sea with inhabitants that need a future here.

When the young catsharks look for fixed shelters in the coming months and make their first nocturnal forays, scientists and volunteers will keep an eye on them. For the island the message remains simple: marine conservation can be built step by step, with patience, local partners and the willingness to see the sea again as a habitat - not just a resource.