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, even for species listed as Endangered by the IUCN, such as the sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus). To help address this knowledge gap, a field mission was carried out in Yumurtalık Cove (located in 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. One juvenile was fitted with a satellite tag and monitored from June to July 2024. Its horizontal and vertical movements were analyzed over a 51-day tracking period. The shark traveled a maximum straight-line distance of approximately 88 km, moving toward Mersin Bay (Türkiye). The relatively restricted movement pattern suggests that this young individual may exhibit resident or semi-resident behavior, rather than undertaking long-distance migrations. Future studies tracking multiple tagged individuals over extended periods will be crucial for improving our understanding of habitat use and connectivity, and for guiding effective conservation of sandbar sharks in the Mediterranean Sea.