Post‐Release Survival of the Pelagic Stingray ( Pteroplatytrygon violacea , Bonaparte, 1832) in French Longline Fisheries in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea

ABSTRACT Bycatch remains a critical challenge in global fisheries, even when using selective gears such as longlines. In the French longline fishery targeting Atlantic bluefin tuna ( Thunnus thynnus ) in the Gulf of Lion, the common pelagic stingray ( Pteroplatytrygon violacea ) is the primary bycatch species. This study investigated the post‐release survival and behaviour of 38 stingrays (38–75 cm disc width) captured during the spring–summer seasons of 2022 and 2023, using electronic tagging (MRPats, sPats, and PSATLife). A clear seasonal trend was observed, with smaller individuals more frequently caught in summer, likely linked to warmer water conditions that also reduced tag retention time (1–70 days). Survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, accounting for uncertainty in post‐release status determination. The results indicated high survival rates ranging from 73% to 100% (median 87%), demonstrating the species' strong resilience to capture and handling. Tagging data also revealed extensive vertical and horizontal movements, with individuals reaching depths of nearly 700 m and traveling over 20 km per day. This brings new and valuable information on this poorly known species, albeit common in the Mediterranean, for the sustainable management of exploited resources in this area.