Mediterranean Sea: Danger for sharks and rays

The Maltese skate, found only in the Mediterranean, is assessed as critically endangered. Bottom trawl fisheries are the main cause for population declines of 80%. Photograph: Mohamed Nejmeddine Bradai/IUCN

This juvenile angular roughshark is critically endangered. Most sharks are exceptionally vulnerable to overfishing because of their tendency to grow slowly, mature late and produce few young Photograph: Alen Soldo/IUCN

Three species of angel shark are critically endangered. Most sharks play key roles as top predators in marine food webs. By feeding on the weak and wounded of prey, sharks help maintain ocean ecosystem function Photograph: Simon Rogerson/IUCN

The giant devil ray, which occurs primarily in the Mediterranean, is considered to be endangered. Females can grow to five metres (17 feet) and give birth to only one pup per pregnancy. Their large size makes them vulnerable to capture and entanglement in fish nets, including illegal driftnets. They are protected in waters around Malta and Croatia Photograph: Wurtz-artescienza s.a.s/IUCN

The shortfin mako is a critically endangered shark prized for its meat and fins. Shark finning - slicing off a shark's valuable fins and discarding the body at sea - is prohibited in the Mediterranean, along with deepwater fishing, but better enforcement is required Photograph: Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch/IUCN

This porbeagle is being caught for research purposes - not for commercial catch, but the IUCN has classified this shark as critically endangered because of persistent fishing pressure well in excess of its reproductive capacity. There are no catch limits for fished species of Mediterranean sharks and rays Photograph: Lisa Natantson/NMFS NOAA

The sanbar shark is among the eight species of sharks, rays and chimaeras (cartilaginous fisheries) assessed as endangered in the region. In addition to overfishing, habitat degradation, recreational fishing and other human disturbances pose significant threats Photograph: Eleonora de Sabata/MedSharks/IUCN

Even the relatively prolific blue shark is now considered to be vulnerable to extinction in the Med. In total, 30 species of sharks, rays and chimaeras are threated with extinction in the region, of which 13 are classified at the highest threat level of critically endangered, eight as endangered and nine as vulnerable Photograph: Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch/IUCN