Tunisia, 24 September 2025 – A workshop on shark and ray conservation and management kicks off in Tunis today. The three-day workshop, organized by WWF North Africa and WWF Mediterranean, UNEP/MAP-SPA/RAC, Plan Bleu, and in partnership with GFCM and several national and international institutions, brings together more than 40 participants from Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Algeria and Egypt, alongside regional and international experts. The sub-regional event focuses on the specific challenges facing North Africa in conserving cartilaginous fish (sharks and rays).

The Mediterranean Sea is home to more than 80 species of elasmobranchs (45 sharks and 40 rays), of which 53% are threatened with extinction according to the IUCN. This alarming situation is mainly due to the overexploitation of marine resources, bycatch, and the degradation of essential habitats such as coastal nursery areas. The North African coastline, with its vast continental shelves and Atlantic connection, nevertheless plays a crucial role in conserving these marine predators, and targeted protection measures are vital both to safeguard them and to maintain the balance of Mediterranean ecosystems.

During the workshop session Balancing Conservation and Livelihoods, participants will capitalize on evidence-based studies and address the socio-economic impacts of conservation measures, with case studies from the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia) and the Gulf of Sirte (Libya).

The objective is clear: to protect marine biodiversity while ensuring sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities. Participants will exchange on key topics, including:
• Recent scientific assessments of shark and ray populations in North Africa
• National and regional action plans for cartilaginous fish conservation
• Technical solutions to reduce bycatch and adapt fishing techniques
• Participatory co-management strategies and pathways for resilient livelihoods, particularly in Tunisia and Libya
• Regional management tools developed by Regional and global initiatives and institutions.

Discussion sessions will strengthen the link between science and policymaking and identify opportunities for implementing urgent actions that address common priorities for enhanced shark and ray protection in the Mediterranean. The workshop will particularly highlight:
• In Tunisia: the co-management experience in the Gulf of Gabès and Kneiss Islands, integrating conservation and socio-economic development.
• In Libya: a Plan Bleu study which assesses the potential socio-economic impacts of implementing conservation measures for nine cartilaginous species in the Gulf of Sirte. proposing recommendations to ensure both biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

At the end of the workshop, participants will begin shaping concrete recommendations to strengthen the conservation of cartilaginous fish and will identify opportunities for cross-border cooperation, including scientific monitoring and active participation of all stakeholders, including local communities.

This workshop represents a major milestone for North Africa and the Mediterranean, laying the groundwork for the sustainable, socially equitable and economically viable management of sharks and rays – species essential to the balance of marine ecosystems.

Wassim Amdrous – Communications Officer, WWF North Africa
+216 21 403 236 / wamdrous@wwfna.org