Bahrain looks to better protect its sharks. Scientists use DNA from seawater

Bahrain is embarking on an ambitious project aimed at determining what is truly happening with shark and ray populations in its waters. Although it is a country surrounded by the sea, until recently, there was very little systematic scientific data on local populations of cartilaginous fish. Researchers have therefore begun to combine several methods, and one of the most interesting is environmental DNA, known as eDNA.

The project is led by marine biologist Reem AlMealla in collaboration with Nuwat for Environmental Research & Education and other partners. The research focuses on which species of sharks and rays are present in Bahraini waters, where they appear, how their presence changes throughout the year, and whether some locations serve as important areas for juveniles. The Save Our Seas Foundation lists the project as an active conservation and research project specifically aimed at creating baseline data on Bahrain's cartilaginous fish.

The first specialized eDNA surveys of sharks and rays in Bahrain took place in 2025. The team planned sampling during three distinct periods – August, December, and April – to compare the hottest, coldest, and transitional parts of the year. This allows for a better understanding not only of the presence of individual species but also their seasonal occurrence.

DNA hidden in water

Every animal releases tiny amounts of genetic material into its environment during its life. For example, microscopic tissue fragments, cells, or other biological traces can remain in the water. Scientists take a water sample and, in the laboratory, can extract genetic information from it, which can then be compared with the DNA of known species.

The advantage is that scientists do not first need to find, catch, or tag a shark. If it has recently moved through a certain area, enough genetic traces may remain in the water to detect its presence. The method is therefore particularly interesting in places where sharks are rare, shy, or travel long distances.

This is precisely what the Bahraini project utilizes. However, eDNA itself is not the only method. Researchers combine it, for example, with BRUV camera systems, fish market surveys, and other data collection methods. The goal is to create the most accurate picture possible of what cartilaginous fish live in Bahrain and how they use the local environment.

In January 2026, the team announced another important step. Because eDNA itself requires a high-quality reference database to assign genetic fragments to specific species, scientists began building the first-ever Bahraini DNA reference database for sharks and rays. During a year-long program of regular fish market surveys, they managed to collect 329 tissue samples.

The significance of the project is even greater because there are still significant gaps in knowledge about shark populations in Bahrain. Scientists want to find out not only what species live there but also where they concentrate, when they appear in the area, and whether some locations serve as important areas for breeding or raising young.

Mangrove areas can be important

One of the most interesting places is Bahrain's mangroves. It was here, for example, that a juvenile lemon shark was observed in the past. Such an observation alone does not mean it is a regular breeding area, but it is an important clue for further research. Researchers therefore want to find out whether juveniles repeatedly appear in similar locations and whether they use them as a refuge in the early stages of life.

If it can be confirmed that some locations function as "nursery areas," where sharks give birth or where their young spend the first part of their lives, it could have crucial importance for conservation. Juveniles are often more vulnerable than adults, and the loss of such habitats can have a long-term impact on the entire population.

It's not just about research. Data should help conservation

The project results can create the first truly detailed basis for shark and ray conservation in Bahrain. This is important not only from the perspective of the animals themselves but also for authorities' decision-making. Without quality data, it is very difficult to determine which locations need protection, when certain activities need to be restricted, or which species are most threatened in a given area.

The importance of better shark protection in Bahrain is also highlighted by research published in the journal Integrative and Comparative Biology. Author Jenny Elliott-Bennett describes the journey to creating a legal framework for shark protection in Bahraini waters. Research findings were presented to the Bahrain Supreme Council for Environment, and a shark protection bill was subsequently incorporated into a broader package of environmental laws expected to be ratified in 2026.

The Bahraini project can thus be an important step towards ensuring that the protection of local sharks is not based solely on random observations, but on systematic scientific data. Researchers want to connect modern genetic methods with camera surveys, fish market data, and the experience of local people. Citizen science, which allows the public to report shark and ray sightings, is also part of the broader project.

Why is eDNA so interesting?

The eDNA method can be very useful for shark research. Some species are rare, move over large areas, or are difficult to observe directly. Instead of a long search for a specific individual, scientists can take a water sample and then determine which species have left a genetic trace in that location.

At the same time, it is important to understand what eDNA can and cannot do. The detection of DNA does not automatically mean that a particular shark is currently located a few meters from the sampling site. Genetic material can spread in water and gradually decompose. Therefore, for true monitoring, it is important to combine eDNA with other methods and repeat sampling over time. This is why the Bahraini project is interesting – it does not rely on a single type of evidence.

In the case of Bahrain, it is also important to determine which parts of the coast and surrounding waters are most significant for sharks. Such information can then help in decisions about protecting specific habitats, regulating human activity, or protecting sensitive areas.

The research is also significant because sharks are not just attractive predators in marine ecosystems. They play an important role in the functioning of food webs, and changes in their populations can affect entire communities. Although shark conservation has been increasingly discussed in recent years, many regions of the world still lack basic information on how many species live there and how individual areas are utilized. Bahrain is now trying to fill this information gap.

It is also interesting that the research is taking place in an environment that is surprising to many people. Bahrain is located in the Persian Gulf, where water temperatures can reach extreme values during the year. Despite this, sharks and rays live here, and Reem AlMealla's team has recorded their presence even during the hottest period.

If longer-term monitoring can be completed and its results linked to planned conservation measures, Bahrain could gain something it has significantly lacked until now – a scientifically substantiated picture of its own shark populations. And it is precisely this that can determine which places will be protected in the future and how.

Bahrain thus shows that modern shark conservation does not have to start with catching and tagging them. Sometimes, it is enough to take a little seawater and see what story is hidden in its DNA.

 

Sources:
Gulf Daily News – Major campaign to protect sharks in Bahrain’s waters
Save Our Seas Foundation – Investigating the lives of sharks and rays in the hottest sea on the planet through eDNA in Bahrain’s waters
Oxford Academic – Justifying, Creating and Legalising a Framework for the Protection of Sharks in Bahraini Waters