Essential for the balance of marine ecosystems, in the Mediterranean, more than half of shark and ray species are threatened. Too often, some cuts of shark meat are sold under generic names or confused with other fish, such as swordfish.
It’s called “HA, YES – HAve You Ever Eaten a Shark?” and it is a project created specifically to reduce the unintentional consumption of shark meat in the Mediterranean Sea.
It is an initiative of the Centro Sperimentale per la Tutela degli Habitat (CESTHA) supported by SPA/RAC, the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the FishEBM Med project.
Raising awareness, promoting change, and offering practical tools, the project unfolds through three complementary activities: the online guide “Shark Slice Guide”, a booklet designed to identify shark meat and distinguish it from that of bony fish. The guide also highlights underutilized fish species, to encourage consumers to choose sustainable alternatives.
Then, an educational podcast to explore the issue and understand how to do your part, produced in collaboration with Disco Scienza and available on Spotify, on CESTHA’s website, and on other platforms.
Finally, the creation of informational posters with QR codes, linking directly to the guide and the podcast, displayed in 20 local fish markets and restaurants.
According to CESTHA, “Sharks are essential to the balance of marine ecosystems, but many species are disappearing due to unsustainable fishing. Even what we put on our plate can make a difference: knowing what we eat is the first step to protecting the sea.”