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In the World, 275 sharks and rays species fulfill the criteria to be in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In the Mediterranean Sea we can find more than 70 species of sharks and rays but 40% of them are threatened (vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered status) turning this sea into one of the most dangerous for the survival of elasmobranches.
The presence of sharks close to the coast is infrequent and there is no reason to be alarmed; only a few species worldwide can be considered dangerous due to their size, but never due to their feeding habits, as humans are not part of their diet. Our mission in these cases is to try to return the animal into open sea and to provide all information needed to keep both people and animals safe.
To minimize the risks when we are attend to sharks sightings we follow a series of rules of conduct and we have to keep in mind at all times that they are wild animals, so we must respect their space and never to corner or disturb them.
SIGHTING ON THE SHORE
- To alert the relevant authority (Local Police, Red Cross or to call the CRAM Foundation via the 112 Emergency Services).
- To exit the water in an orderly and calm fashion and to wait until the animal leaves the vicinity of the beach.
- Do never touch, disturb o corner the animal and do not enter into the water.
- Do no shout or behave in a way that could spread panic among the bathers.
SIGHTING FROM A BOAT
- To reduce speed bellow 6 knots and to avoid sudden speed changes.
- To switch the engine in Neutral when went closer than 100 meters to avoid injuring them.
- To avoid disturbing sharks or rays groups in order to let them behave naturally.
- Jet-skies should be farer than 500 meters to avoid disturbing the animals.
- Remember: even if you see just one shark on the surface maybe are more under it.
SIGHTING DURING A DIVE
- Keep calm and a very relaxed position and never lose sight the animal. Do not try to keep buoyancy waving arms or make rapid or noisy movements.
- Stay at a distance of more than 10 meters from the animal.
- Do not breathe noisily or in excess. Breathe deeply and exhale slowly.
- Stay still in the bottom or move slowly, with rhythmic and self-confident movement.
- Most of the sharks are just curious and they usually leave on their own initiative. If the animal starts to be too much interested in us or gets closer, the best strategy is to go out from the water quickly but smoothly, without losing sight the shark at any moment and staying nest to your diving partner. If it is possible, protect your back with the sea bed or the sand to minimize possible approaching angles.
- Keep the divers group together.
- Do never touch, disturb or corner de animal.
- Do never feed or attract using food the sharks if you are into the water.
- Do never descend over a shark.
- Do never go close o chase a shark in a 45º angle or lower, it could feel threatened and attack.
- Do not shine a light on their eyes or use flash to take pictures.
- Be careful in night dives or reduced visibility.
SIGHTINGS DURING UNDERWATER FISHING
- Get rid of the preys immediately.
- Keep calm and go out from the water.
Rescue Actions:
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 CRAM vets taking information and samples from a Basking Shark specimen (Cetorhinus maximus) caught accidentally by a fisherman
 Basking sharks, in spite of their large size, eat plankton. If confronted by one of them, we should keep calm and not lose our cool
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