Overview

• Researchers tagged and tracked more than 100 angel sharks around La Graciosa from 2018 to 2023 to document seasonal breeding behaviors.
• In 2022 water temperatures rose above 23.8 °C and remained over the 22.5 °C mating threshold longer than usual during breeding season.
• Female sharks avoided traditional spawning grounds during the heatwave while males continued to return, resulting in a temporary halt in reproduction.
• Angel sharks mature late and produce few young, making their recovery slow amid existing threats from overfishing and habitat loss.
• Scientists are urging the expansion of telemetry programs and the strengthening of conservation measures within key Canary Islands marine refuges.