Protecting guitarfish through citizen science and fishers collaboration
The SAFE-Guitarfish project aims to actively engage both recreational and professional fishers in the conservation of the species. Through workshops, fishers will gain knowledge about the species’ significance, threats, safe handling techniques, and citizen science reporting. Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) will be utilized to better understand the spatiotemporal activity of the species and its interactions with fisheries. Tagging initiatives will provide insights into guitarfish structure, demographics, fisheries interactions, growth rates, size-specific characteristics, and movements in specific locations. This comprehensive approach aims to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility, reducing mortalities and advancing our understanding of guitarfish populations.
The project is implemented in partnership with the Environmental Organisation for the Preservation of the Aquatic Ecosystems, iSea (Greece), and funded by the Cyprus Environmental Foundation.
Learn more about the project here: https://www.merresearch.com/portfolio...