Actualités : Investigating Shark and Ray Populations in the Santa Luzia Marine Reserve 

The Shark and Ray Research and Conservation program began in 2019, and since then we have been carrying out regular expeditions for tagging and BRUV placement activities in the Santa Luzia Marine Reserve. With the continuation of the program, it allows Biosfera to have knowledge of the shark and ray species that use the MPA as a habitat and also allows us to access the dangers of the species as well as the state of the populations of the most observed species.

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In 2024, with the support of RAMPAO, Biosfera continued the current efforts of the project “Research and Conservation of Elasmobranchs of Cape Verde” in the Santa Luzia Marine Reserve. The project aimed to advance current efforts to better understand the biology, ecology and conservation status of sharks and rays, especially the species Blackchin guitarfish (Glaucostegus cemiculus) and the Atlantic Weasel shark (Paragaleus pectoralis), which occur in Cabo Verde and especially in the Santa Luzia Marine Reserve.

The main activities include external passive tagging and the BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video System), which aims to improve biological and ecological knowledge of the elasmobranchs present in the Santa Luzia Marine Reserve, with a particular focus on the Blackchin guitarfish and the Atlantic weasel shark, as well as investigating habitat use and the importance of Santa Luzia as a nursery.

Data has been collected since 2020 and so far, through passive tagging expeditions, a total of 600 sharks and rays of 11 species have been tagged in the Santa Luzia marine reserve, among these species the Blackchin guitarfish with 233 tags and the Atlantic weasel shark with 81 tags from 2022 to 2023, and this year there have already been 45 and 10 tagged individuals of these species respectively.

Using BRUV data, 363 observations were made of 11 different species in Santa Luzia, with a focus on the Atlantic weasel shark, with 205 observations in key areas of the Marine Reserve. These two methods are revealing, as the results show a good variety of species that use the MPA as a habitat and also agglomeration and nursery areas for the target species.

Obviously, this data is useful in terms of monitoring, which shows the importance of continuous monitoring over the years, analysing the challenges and threats faced by these species on the ground, namely fishing directed at the Santa Luzia Marine Reserve.

Stiven Pires – Coordenador do Programa de Tubarões e Raias