NEOBLUE: Monitoring newborn blue sharks in coastal Galicia
Each summer, newborn blue sharks appear along the Galician coast, including inside the semi-enclosed embayments known as rías. Reports from fishers and divers suggest these areas could be critical for early survival, offering food and shelter. These same waters are hotspots for fishing, aquaculture and maritime traffic, putting newborn sharks at risk of bycatch and disturbance. Understanding how blue sharks use these habitats is essential. Kenn’s NEOBLUE project will use underwater video surveys to gather the first systematic data on neonate blue sharks in the Ría de Vigo. By mapping their presence and behaviour, the project will determine whether these coastal waters function as nurseries.
Kenn Papadopoulo
I grew up in a small village outside Paris, but it was my summers exploring the coast of Normandy that first sparked my fascination with the sea. During an exchange programme in biology and ecology at the University of Sydney, a transformative experience swimming with wild sharks cemented my passion for marine life and steered me towards shark research.
I went on to pursue an international Master’s degree in marine biology, which involved training in Belgium, Portugal, Spain and Ireland. My thesis at the Institute of Marine Science (IIM-CSIC) in Vigo focused on the behaviour and...
NEOBLUE: Detecting the presence of newborn blue sharks in the inshore waters of Galicia
To determine whether newborn blue sharks use the Ría de Vigo as a nursery area and provide the knowledge needed to inform conservation strategies.
Listed as Near Threatened, blue sharks are facing heavy fishing pressure worldwide. Whereas adults are well-studied, the lives of their newborns remain largely unknown. By identifying and protecting nursery areas in Galicia, this project will help safeguard young sharks during their most vulnerable life stage and support the recovery of populations.
Each summer, newborn blue sharks appear along the Galician coast, including inside the semi-enclosed embayments known as rías. Reports from fishers and divers suggest these areas could be critical for the sharks’ early survival as they offer food and shelter. Yet these same waters are hotspots for fishing, aquaculture and maritime traffic, putting neonate sharks at risk of bycatch and disturbance.
It is essential to understand how blue sharks use these habitats. Sharks grow slowly and reproduce late, and many juveniles die before reaching adulthood. This means that protecting young sharks can have an outsized effect on population recovery.
The NEOBLUE project will use underwater video surveys to gather the first systematic data on neonate blue sharks in the Ría de Vigo. By mapping their presence and behaviour, the project will determine whether these coastal waters function as nurseries. The results will feed directly into local and international conservation initiatives, including proposals for Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs). Alongside the science, outreach and education will raise public awareness and encourage stewardship, ensuring both sharks and people benefit from healthier marine ecosystems.
- To determine spatio-temporal behaviour by using underwater pelagic cameras to track the seasonal presence, abundance and habitat use of newborn blue sharks in the Ría de Vigo.
- To increase public awareness by sharing our findings with local communities, schools and NGOs to highlight the importance of blue shark conservation and promote sustainable co-existence.