LIFE PROMETHEUS at the Marine Biodiversity Conference: Focusing on Sharks and Rays

Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain, November 14, 2024 – The LIFE PROMETHEUS project , coordinated by the Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM) and co-financed by the EU LIFE+ Funding Programme, was presented at the Jornades de Biodiversitat Marina (Marine Biodiversity Conference) held in Palma, Spain, on November 14, 2024. The specific event, titled “Taurons i Rajades” (Sharks and Batoids), focused on the conservation and research of shark and ray species in the Mediterranean and beyond.

The event brought together around 100 stakeholders, including scientists, conservationists, and policymakers. Various experts presented their research on sharks and rays, highlighting the ongoing efforts to address the significant gaps in biological data for several endangered species listed on the IUCN Red List. The conference aimed to raise awareness about the importance of understanding these species’ biology to better protect them.

A key focus of the event was the presentation of the activities that the CSIC-IEO (Spanish National Research Council – Spanish Institute of Oceanography) will be conducting within the framework of the LIFE PROMETHEUS project. The project, which is dedicated to improving the conservation of marine biodiversity, has been working to address the ecological threats posed by invasive species and to support the sustainable management of marine ecosystems.

The LIFE PROMETHEUS project emphasizes collaboration between scientists, stakeholders, and local communities to ensure the protection of vulnerable marine species, including sharks and rays, in the Mediterranean region.