Stellaris Action
Stellaris Action is a collaborative shark conservation project that partners with local authorities, institutions, and organisations to recover the Nursehound shark (Scyliorhinus stellaris) population in the Balearic Sea and ensure its survival.
Explore the Stellaris Action project
The Stellaris Action project focuses on recovering Nursehound shark (Scyliorhinus stellaris) populations by breeding and releasing them into protected areas of the Balearic Sea. It also aims to raise awareness about this emblematic species and the causes behind its decline.
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ABOUT STELLARIS ACTION
Marine Conservation Efforts
The Nursehound shark, classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN and Endangered in the Red Book of Fish of the Balearic Islands, faces significant threats from overfishing in the Mediterranean. Native to both Atlantic and Mediterranean waters, this small shark can grow up to 1.6 metres in length. Its distinctive leopard-like spots give it an elegant appearance, and in Catalan, it is known as Gatvaire due to its resemblance to wild cats and leopards. As a bottom-dwelling species, it feeds on benthic organisms like bony fish, smaller sharks, and crustaceans, playing a crucial role in marine ecosystems.
In addition to the breeding programme, Stellaris Action has published a comic book, The Nursehound, a Story without Thorns, to educate the public about the Nursehound's habitat, lifestyle, and current threats.
Stellaris Action is a collaborative effort involving the Balearic government, Marilles Foundation, Palma Aquarium Foundation, Petites Illes del Mediterrani, Mallorca Preservation Foundation, Shark Med, Cabrera National Park Visitors' Centre, and local fishermen.
Participatory governance at play
Since 2018, Save the Med has been running community engagement projects focused on protecting the area's biodiversity and encouraging a culture of regeneration. These projects are designed to connect people with the sea, helping them learn more about their environment. They also inspire citizens to take responsibility for protecting nature and get involved in decision-making through participatory governance.
As a result of these efforts, community members have come together to form the Xarxa Dragonera Blava (Blue Dragonera Network). This group includes people from different sectors, all working with a shared goal: to protect the local marine ecosystems.
What is the Xarxa?
The Xarxa Dragonera Blava (XDB) is a social network for the Sa Dragonera community. It brings together local citizens, government representatives, experts, activists, and anyone who wants to help regenerate the region. Its purpose is to create participatory governance for the marine area around Sa Dragonera, ensuring that the community is actively involved in making decisions about its management.
How Does It Work?
The process starts by building strong community relationships and learning about the area's values and threats. Once this understanding is shared, the community sets goals collaboratively. These goals are tackled through participatory forums, where community input shapes how the marine area is managed. This includes working with different local sectors to implement best practices . Additionally, three working groups have been formed to focus on specific local issues in the municipality of Andratx: Education & Best Practices, Mooring & Anchoring, and Water Quality.
Successful outcomes from the Xarxa and its bottom-up approach include launching an environmental good-practice campaign for visitors and establishing a community-led protocol for mooring and anchoring among local boat owners to help reduce overcrowding in Sa Dragonera's waters. These achievements are a direct result of the participatory governance of the Xarxa’s working groups, allowing local community inputs to tackle issues and contribute solutions.
Join us
Save the Med envisions restoring biodiversity through active community and stakeholder engagement. By increasing knowledge about the sea, involving people in caring for the area, improving practices at sea, and setting up a stewardship program with participative management, our goal is to bring back the rich biodiversity of Sa Dragonera.
To learn more about the Xarxa Dragonera Blava and its upcoming activities, visit the project's website. Get involved and help us restore Sa Dragonera’s marine biodiversity!
200+
Nursehound sharks have been bred to date
16 sharks
have been released in the protected waters of Cabrera National park
16 sharks
have been released in the marine reserve of El Toro and Malgrats
