First Satellite Tracking of a Juvenile Sandbar Shark ( Carcharhinus plumbeus ) off the Mediterranean Coast of Türkiye

The spatial behavior of sharks in the Mediterranean Sea remains poorly understood, including for species listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, such as the sandbar shark ( Carcharhinus plumbeus ). To help address this knowledge gap, a field campaign was conducted in June 2024 in Yumurtalık Cove (Iskenderun Bay, eastern Mediterranean), one of the few confirmed breeding and nursery grounds for this species. During the mission, six sandbar sharks were captured using traditional longline methods. All individuals were measured onboard, and five were released due to their small size or compromised condition. A MiniPAT satellite tag (Wildlife Computers) was deployed on a juvenile, enabling analysis of horizontal and vertical movements over a 51-day tracking period. The shark traveled a maximum straight-line distance of approximately 88 km, moving toward Mersin Bay (Türkiye). The restricted movement pattern indicates that this young shark is more likely to exhibit resident or semi-resident behavior rather than undertaking long-distance migrations. Expanding long-term tracking efforts across multiple tagged individuals will be essential for clarifying habitat use and connectivity, ultimately supporting effective conservation of sandbar sharks in the Mediterranean Sea.