RAC/SPA has recently published Guidelines for shark and ray recreational fishing in the Mediterranean within the framework of the implementation of the Action Plan for the Conservation of Cartilaginous Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea.

The document is edited on two languages (French and English) and aims to:

• Reduce the potentially harmful impacts of recreational fishing activities upon Mediterranean populations of sharks and rays by promoting catch and release,
• Disseminate protocols for the handling of catches to improve post-release survival,
• Encourage the participation of recreational fishers in data collection and management activities, including tag and release programmes, and
• Raise public awareness and scientific knowledge of the status, biodiversity and ecological importance of sharks and rays in the Mediterranean.

The English pdf version of this document can be downloaded through this link.