Ilija Ćetković

Other projects

6 Apr 2017

Reducing the Negative Impact of Tuna Fisheries on Pelagic Sharks and Their Conservation in Montenegrin Part of the Adriatic Sea

30 Apr 2018

Determination of Fishing Effort on Sharks by Montenegrin Marine Fisheries and Multi-Stakeholder Informing About Conservation of These Endangered Species

Aims of this project are to determine distribution of Blue shark in coastal waters of Montenegro, define threatening factors and educate target groups.

Blue shark.

Blue shark, also known as the blue pointer, globally is near threatened. According to the IUCN, it is vulnerable in the Adriatic Sea. It has been recorded in the Montenegrin part of the Adriatic Sea, but there is no official data about its population here. It is not protected by national law and it is threatened by a lot of factors. Overfishing is the biggest threat to this species. It is common belief that it is a dangerous monster, also other shark species. Goal of this project is to reduce those beliefs using educational leafleats, lectures and other materials. Lectures will be done in local fishing clubs, schools and on the University of Montenegro, to involve local community. That will lead to raised awareness about Blue shark and other shark species. For better protection, we need more data about its distribution and condition of its habitat. That will be defined through field work activities during the following summer.

Budva sea pollution.

Plan is to visit three locations on our coastline that are potential habitats for Blue shark. They are set in the South (between Ulcinj and Bar), in the middle (Budva) and in the North part of the coastline (between Tivat and Herceg Novi). Locations will be visited for 7 days, each one, during the June, July and August 2016. Field work will be implemented during the night and in the sunset and dawn. Big amount of sardines will be used to attract sharks. During the night, we will use underwater LED light. Sharks will be caught using sport fishing tackle for big pelagic fish, so they won't be injured. In September, we will take part in „Days of science“, event organised by Ministry of Science with a lot of visitors. International cooperation will help us to get in contact with other scientists and institutions from our region that are dealing with this problem.

Taking the fork length of caught Blue shark.

At the end of the project, representatives of competent institutions will receive invitations for a round table and we will suggest them to put Blue shark on the list of threatened species of Montenegro and take care about this problem. This project will be implemented in cooperation with NGO “Montenegrin Ecologists Society” and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.