Occurrence, Bycatch, and Utilization of Carcharhinid Sharks (Family Carcharhinidae) in the Mediterranean Waters off the Gaza Strip, Palestine
Abdel Fattah N. Abd Rabou *
Department of Biology & Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Islamic University of Gaza, P.O. Box 108, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Samira Enajjar
Marine Biodiversity Laboratory, National Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Carthage University, P.O. Box 1035, Sfax 3018, Tunisia.
Bechir Saidi
Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Sidi Bouzid, Kairouan University, 9100, Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia.
Rimel M. Benmessaoud
National Institute of Agronomy of Tunisia, 43Av. Charles Nicolle, Tunis 1082, Tunisia.
Mourad M. Cherif
National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies (INSTM), La Goulette Port, Tunis, Tunisia.
Ola A. Abd Rabou
Department of Smart Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Ahlam M. Abu Al-Soud
Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Ruba E. Abu Al-Soud
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Palestine, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Rana M. Jouda
Department of Media, Faculty of Media and Information Technology, University of Palestine, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Mayson A. Alshinbary
Department of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Al-Azhar University, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Azhar H. Abumghaiseeb
Department of Curricula and Teaching Methods, Faculty of Education, Al-Azhar University, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Maged M. Yassin
Faculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Mohammed R. Al-Agha
Department of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Jehad Y. Salah
General Directorate of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Abdel Fattah A. Qaraman
Deanship of Scientific Research and Libraries, Israa University, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Norman A. Khalaf
Department of Environmental Research & Media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The Mediterranean waters off the Gaza Strip, Palestine, represent an understudied yet ecologically important part of the eastern Mediterranean, where information on carcharhinid shark occurrence, bycatch, and utilization remains limited. This study provides a descriptive assessment of carcharhinid or requiem sharks based on field surveys of landing sites and markets, complemented by fishermen interviews and fisheries data. Three species were recorded: the Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus Nardo, 1827), the Dusky Shark (Carcharhinus obscurus Lesueur, 1818), and the Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus Müller & Henle, 1839). Among them, the Sandbar Shark was the most frequently encountered, primarily associated with coastal and demersal habitats, whereas the Dusky and Blacktip Sharks were less common, likely reflecting their wider distributions and more migratory behavior. Additional species, such as the Spinner Shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna Müller & Henle, 1839), may be documented in the future as monitoring efforts and marine research in the Gaza Strip improve. Sharks are captured primarily as bycatch in artisanal fisheries using gillnets, trammel nets, and longlines, with trawling playing a minor role. Captured individuals are locally sold and consumed, contributing to food security and livelihoods, particularly through traditional dishes such as “Sayadieh”. Despite partial awareness of their threatened status, fishing pressure persists due to economic dependence and limited management alternatives. The results highlight the ecological role of the Gaza Strip’s coastal waters as transitional habitats that may function as feeding, migratory, and potentially nursery areas for sharks, influenced by environmental variability including warming trends and thermal discharges. Overall, the study emphasizes the need for improved monitoring, bycatch reduction measures, habitat protection, and community-based management to support the conservation of carcharhinid sharks in the Mediterranean Sea.
Keywords: Carcharhinid sharks, Sandbar Shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus, Dusky Shark, Carcharhinus obscurus, Blacktip Shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, bycatch, artisanal fisheries, utilization, conservation, Mediterranean Sea, Gaza Strip, Palestine