In the Mediterranean, the contribution of elasmobranchs to the total yield of commercial fisheries is low when compared to teleost fishes. Nevertheless, sharks and rays are an important component of marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean. Over 80 elasmobranch species are of potential interest to fisheries in this area. Catch of these species is decreasing in the Mediterranean. The main threats to the status of elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean are fisheries (directed and bycatch) and habitat degradation. In the northern part of the Mediterranean Sea, where fishing activity is more intense than in the south, a clear loss of biodiversity has been observed.

Although the Mediterranean is a semi-closed sea, its chondrichthyan fauna is diverse - about 7% of the living chondrichthyan species in the world. There are a couple of endemic species (Raja polystigma, R. radula, Leucoraja melitensis and possibly R. asterias and Mobula mobular).

Chondrichthyan Species

	Mediterranean	Globally
Sharks	47	~470
Batoids	32	~650
Chimaeras	1	~50
Total	82	~1170

The concepts of conserving biodiversity and managing marine resources through responsible fishery practices has led to a change in the environmental strategic policy regarding fisheries. In 1998, FAO produced guidelines for an International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks and Rays, called IPOA - Sharks.

There have been many initiatives in the Mediterranean to evaluate the conservation status of cartilaginous fishes (e.g. the main MEDITS research trawl survey started in 1994). A number of international organisations play an important role in assisting with the implementation of these activities including GFCM, UNEP RAC/SPA, IUCN-SSG, EEA, SHARK ALLIANCE.

There is little measure of the exploitation status and trajectory of shark and ray populations. There is urgent need for monitoring of fishing effort, commercial landings of each species, and there biological parameters. The main objective should be an efficient monitoring of elasmobranches catches, in particular in such multispecific fisheries where sharks constitute an important fraction of the by-catch. It is expected that the countries that enforce their own Action Plans should guarantee a systematic assessment of the shark catches involved in the fisheries. The general goal is to ensure the conservation and the management of the sharks and their long-term sustainable use.