The Adriatic hides far more sharks than we thought. Scientists uncover one of Europe's most important hotspots

When people think of the Adriatic, most imagine clear water, the Croatian coast, rocky beaches, and summer holidays. However, few envision a world full of sharks and rays beneath its surface. Yet, according to new findings, the Adriatic Sea is one of the biologically exceptionally important areas for these animals – and scientists are discovering that its significance has long been underestimated.

At first glance, the Adriatic is a relatively small part of the Mediterranean Sea. However, beneath its surface lies a surprisingly diverse mosaic of environments. We find shallow coastal waters, river mouths, sandy and muddy bottoms, rocky areas, underwater meadows, deep canyons, and enormous deep-sea trenches. Each of these environments can have a different significance for sharks and rays – some species forage here, others reproduce, or their young grow up here.

And it is the juveniles that represent one of the most interesting pieces of evidence of how important the Adriatic truly is. For example, the Cervia-Marina di Ravenna area in the northwestern Adriatic has been designated an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) due to the regular presence of newly born sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus). Juveniles appear here mainly during the summer, when this area serves as their important "nursery."

Even more fascinating is the southern part of the Adriatic. In the area of the so-called Southern Adriatic Pit, one of the deepest parts of the Adriatic Sea, scientists have recorded an important breeding ground for blue sharks (Prionace glauca). Research shows regular seasonal occurrences, and juveniles shorter than one meter have also been recorded here.

But this also shows the other side of the story. The Adriatic is not just a place of extraordinary biodiversity – it is also an area where sharks and rays are subjected to immense pressure. According to expert assessments, approximately 70% of shark, ray, and chimaera species in the Adriatic are regionally endangered, with some species having even completely disappeared from the area. The main problem remains fishing and bycatch.

And that is why it is so important to find out where exactly sharks live, where they reproduce, and where they return. Because if we do not know which places are crucial for them, we can hardly protect them effectively.

Therefore, in recent years, scientists have increasingly used long-term monitoring, tagging, and cooperation with fishermen. The results of this work show that more than 300,000 individual sharks and rays, representing 35 species, have been recorded throughout the Adriatic during long-term monitoring. Some of them are more common, while others are extremely rare.

Also interesting is new research on blue sharks in the southern Adriatic, published in October 2026. Scientists used satellite tagging to track what happens to sharks after they are accidentally caught on longlines. The results showed approximately 70% survival after release, with the shark's condition and the length of time it remained on the gear playing a crucial role. The study thus supports the careful release of sharks back into the sea as one possible way to reduce the impact of fishing.

The Adriatic thus presents a peculiar paradox. On the one hand, it harbors important breeding grounds, nurseries, and migration routes for sharks and rays. On the other hand, these very species are among the most endangered inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea. So it's not just about how many sharks we can still find in the Adriatic. It is equally important to understand which places need protection so that they can continue to live there in a few decades.

So, next time you stand on a Croatian beach and look into the clear water, it might be worth remembering that beneath the surface lies a much more complex world than what we see from the coast. The Adriatic is not a "sea without sharks." Quite the opposite. It is one of the places where the future of entire populations of these fascinating predators may be decided.