New shark species recorded locally

A new species of shark, Centroscymnus coelolepis (Portuguese dogfish) was recorded for the first time in Maltese fisheries and waters in a local study on the existence of sharks and rays around the Maltese islands.

The shark is found at depths of 200 to 3,500 metres, according to the study, which was recently presented at a marine biodiversity conference held in Lecce, Italy.

The study was conducted by researchers Jesmond Dalli and by Adriana Vella of the Conservation Biology Research Group, Biology Department of the University of Malta, who was invited to participate in the conference as an associate member of the Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning (MarBEF).

The study also looked at DNA damage to investigate how various local habitats could be affecting marine species down to their cellular DNA structure and function.

MarBEF, funded by the European Union, consists of 83 European marine institutes from 24 countries and is a platform to integrate and disseminate knowledge and expertise on marine biodiversity, with links to researchers, industry, stakeholders and the public.