Over several weekends this summer, Sharklab-Malta ran the “Bombs to Batoids” project with the assistance of volunteer citizen science divers, the research team of Sharklab-Malta, Galaxy Charters and the Environment, and Resources Authority of Malta.
Divers carried out circa 160 scientifically planned dives at the Filfla Marine Protected area keeping sharp eyes for different species of batoids and who knows… maybe a shark 🙂
As a result, three main species of rays over a total of over 150 sightings were noted but sadly, no sharks were spotted.
These results and more have just been presented a few days ago in the main scientific conference for sharks and rays in Europe – the European Elasmobranch Association Conference, in Greece! You may see a copy of a poster presented during the conference, which included a QR link to an amazing sighting video of a possible mating between rays.
Charlie Matthews, Scientific Officer at Sharklab-Malta in a thank-you note to participants in the project also remarked that this project really helped to put Malta on the scientific diving map.
This project was financed by the National STEM Community Fund of Esplora Interactive Science Centre (Malta Council for Science and Technology) on behalf of the National STEM Engagement Working Group.
