Thousands of visitors – including over 500 students – dived into the world of sharks at the large exhibition organised by LIFE European Sharks, Life Prometheus and WWF Italy on the Olbia seafront during #MedFest.
Inside a spectacular blue-lit dome, a giant screen projected images of sharks and rays in their natural habitat.
Panels introduced visitors to the lives of these extraordinary species and the challenges they face. An entire corner was dedicated to the sharks and rays of Sardinia – from the giant basking shark, which stops off in these waters during its migrations, to eagle rays and stingrays, which, thanks to reports from divers, we are discovering are gathering in these areas.
This is important information, given that Olbia is at the heart of an ISRA (Important Shark and Ray Area) for basking sharks.
Sharks and rays are part of Sardinia’s culinary traditions, and the guidelines for sustainable consumption were particularly appreciated. Thanks to Shoreline and MedSharks for taking the public on this journey to discover sharks, and to WWF Italy, partner of Life Prometheus, for involving us in this event.
LIFE European Sharks (LIFE22-GIE-IT-LIFE-EU-SHARKS/101114031) is a project for the conservation of sharks and rays in the Mediterranean, co-financed by the European Union through the LIFE programme. It is coordinated by the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station with partners in Croatia (University of Split), France (Parcu naturale marinu di u Capicorsu è di l’Agriate) and Italy (Livorno Aquarium, District Competence Centre, D.R.E.AM, Italian Coast Guard, MedSharks, Shoreline and University of Florence).
