An initiative by CESTHA supported by SPA/RAC, to reduce the consumption of threatened shark species.
In the Mediterranean, more than half of shark and ray species are threatened. Improving their conservation status requires action at different levels. Information and awareness, which can influence more sustainable practices, are particularly crucial.
In Italy, and specifically in the Emilia-Romagna region, the environmental centre CESTHA (Centro Sperimentale per la Tutela degli Habitat) has focused on a specific challenge: the consumption of shark meat.
“Sharks are essential to the balance of marine ecosystems, but many species are disappearing due to unsustainable fishing. What we put on our plates can also make a difference: knowing what we eat is the first step towards protecting the sea”, reads their website.
To address this issue, CESTHA developed the project "HA, YES – HAve You Ever Eaten a Shark?", structured around three complementary activities.
The first was the creation of the Shark Slice Guide, a booklet designed to help consumers identify shark meat and distinguish it from bony fish. It also presents the main shark species found in Italian markets and highlights underutilized fish species to encourage consumers to opt for sustainable alternatives.
The second was the production of a podcast episode on shark conservation, created in collaboration with Disco Scienza and available on Spotify, the CESTHA website, and other platforms. Hosted by Simone D’Acunto, director of CESTHA, the episode features Andrea and Marco Spinelli—marine biologists active in shark conservation on social media—together with Andrea Bellati. Their expertise and outreach helped bring the project’s message to a wide audience.
Finally, the project extended its reach into local communities through awareness posters with QR codes, linking directly to the Guide and the podcast, displayed in 20 local fish markets and restaurants.
All the project materials are available on the dedicated section of the CESTHA website: https://www.cestha.it/task7.html
If you are interested in scaling up this initiative or developing collaborations, we invite you to contact us.
This initiative, along with five others for shark conservation, was supported by SPA/RAC, the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), as part of its support to the implementation of the 2024–2025 Work Programme of UNEP/MAP, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the FishEBM Med project.