An intense rescue operation yesterday enabled a mobula ray, a protected species, to be returned to the sea after it became trapped in a bend in the new port of Fiumicino, which is still under construction.
The animal, over two metres wide, had become stranded yesterday morning in an area of the port from which, due to low tide, it was unable to escape. After a passage was cleared with an excavator, the mobula ray was guided, not without difficulty, back to the open sea through a maze of shoals and shallow water.
We would like to thank the Doronzo Infrastrutture company, which is building the new port, whose fishing area is expected to open by the end of 2026, the divers of MTM Service and, of course, the Coast Guard personnel for their promptness, commitment and sensitivity in freeing this magnificent animal. This was a team effort involving three partners of LIFE European Sharks: the Coast Guard, Simona Clò of the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station and Eleonora de Sabata of MedSharks. And thanks to Sabrina Macchioni (Blue Marline Diving Centre) for alerting us!
European Sharks (LIFE22-GIE-IT-LIFE-EU-SHARKS/101114031) is a project for the conservation of sharks and rays in the Mediterranean, co-funded by the European Union through the LIFE programme. It is coordinated by Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn with partners in Croatia (Università di Spalato), France (Parcu naturale marinu di u Capicorsu è di l’Agriate) and Italy (Acquario di Livorno, Centro di Competenza Distrettuale, D.R.E.AM, Guardia Costiera Italiana, MedSharks, Shoreline and Università di Firenze).
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