A recent fisheries-dependent monitoring program off Vlorë, Albania, has revealed a significant population of velvet belly lanternsharks (Etmopterus spinax) in the Adriatic Sea, a species previously thought to be rare. Researchers recorded over 319 individuals between 2023 and 2025, with the presence of neonates, juveniles, and gravid females suggesting the area serves as a nursery ground. The study also highlighted that fishing gear significantly impacts survival rates, with bottom trawls causing 100% mortality compared to longlines. DNA analysis indicated moderate genetic diversity and previously unrecorded haplotypes, suggesting a partially isolated but regionally distinct population. AI
RANK_REASON The item details findings from a fisheries-dependent monitoring program and DNA analysis concerning a specific marine species, which constitutes research. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=0.1]
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