Sharklab Malta interacts with 784 students at this year's FEE Fest.

From the market to freedom: Sharklab and the Malta National Aquarium are saving lives!

Randel Kreitsberg writes about Sharklab Malta founder Greg Nowell’s work in raising awareness and preserving these fantastic creatures.

I have a passion for conserving sharks. For most people that seems odd. For the majority, sharks are frightening creatures, man-eating monsters that enjoy nothing more than seeking out human flesh. The truth, of course, is that most sharks are harmless to humans, and those that do pose a risk can still largely be engaged with safely. For us, the volunteers of Sharklab-Malta, it feels natural to care for sharks and we would do almost anything to make sure that sharks, rays and skates have a future. Even if that means diving fully-clothed into cold water for several hours…

What world do we want our children to inherit? A world without bees or turtles or sharks? This year’s Science in the City festival, taking place across Valletta between 6 pm and midnight on Friday, has gathered together Malta’s non-governmental organisations to help visitors answer this question through games and many more interactive experiences. The NGO area at De Valette Square shows research that can aid us in the race against time to save various animal species. BirdLife Malta collects data about bird migration, while Sharklab explains how sharks hold the key to the Mediterranean Sea’s future.

Picture and Maltese description of the rescue of a blue shark that was stranded on the rocks at Pembroke.

Greg Nowell of Sharklab Malta tries to help a blue shark back into the water after it was washed ashore in Pembroke on March 7. Officials from Sharklab Malta and the National Aquarium said the 2.5metre shark was weak and had likely been washed ashore by the rough waves. The blue shark is an absolutely harmless shark with no reported fatal attacks on humans, according to Sharklab Malta.

A blue shark was found washed up on the coast of Pembroke, in eastern Malta, and rescued by charity SharklabMalta. Brit Greg Nowell, who founded the charity, was called to the beach after reports of an injured or dying shark, and leapt into action as he coaxed the shark away from the rocks and back into the water. It took five attempts for the shark to clear the rocks,but she was soon swimming happily back into the deep ocean.

A weak 2.5m blue shark was washed ashore at Pembroke this afternoon. Officials from Sharklab Malta and the National Aquarium made several attempts to rescue the shark back to safety and they were finally successful in the evening. The blue shark is an "absolutely harmless" shark with no reported fatal attacks on humans, Greg Nowell from Sharklab Malta told Times of Malta.

This is the incredible moment a shark was rescued from rocks off the Maltese coast and returned to the sea. The three-metre long female Blue Shark was washed ashore near Pembroke as strong waves pounded the coastline. Experts from Sharklab Malta and the Malta National Aquarium made several attempts to rescue the shark, pulling it from the rocks several times over a period of two hours.

Rumour has it that you can see sharks in the Mediterranean Sea. Well, it is true because they play an important role in marine ecosystems but no need to start worrying! We tell you where and how we went snorkeling in Malta with sharks and introduce you the Sharklab conservation project!

SharkLab Malta is an organization who's objective is to protect sharks, rays and skates. They do this by research and public education around the Maltese islands. Their primary goal is to protect sharks. These predators are important parts of the marine ecosystem but they are becoming increasingly rare and face extinction.

An 'absolutely harmless' blue shark was found beached on the rocky shore at Pembroke yesterday.

Beach season has just begun on the Mediterranean island of Malta, and tourists are flocking to the country for a look at its stunning harbours and ancient buildings. One recent visitor, however, couldn't leave the island fast enough: a three-metre blue shark that stranded on the rocky shore. Officials from Sharklab Malta and the Malta National Aquarium made several attempts to rescue the large female after an initial workup showed her to be in good health. "She had a small gash on her snout but otherwise appeared undamaged – but tired and in distress," Sharklab co-founder Greg Nowell wrote in a Facebook statement. "There were strong currents and a very heavy swell which kept pushing the shark back into the bay." After two hours of work, the team finally managed to move the animal past the pull of the shore break. Aquarium staff stayed on the scene throughout the afternoon to keep an eye out for any signs of trouble.

A female shark that on Monday afternoon was stranded on Pembroke coast for hours on the rocks, managed to release itself and was back swimming in deep sea. The shark, known as blue shark, was around three metres long and came near the coast in a weakened state due to strong sea currents. The shark was assisted by a number of officials from the National Aquarium of Bugibba who made various attempts to rescue it. On their Facebook page, Sharklab-Malta said that Greg Nowell, one of the officials spent around two hours to release the shark from the rocks.

The Aquarium has been collaborating with Sharklab Malta in a recovery and release programme of two species of local cat shark species, Nurse hounds and Lesser spotted cat sharks. Sharklab Malta visit the fish market in Valletta daily to report the amount of shark species that are landed and check whether or not they have egg cases inside them. These egg cases are taken out and brought to the Aquarium for further development until they hatch naturally,where they are displayed to the public visiting the Aquarium. Both Sharklab Malta and the Aquarium have since organised three shark releases in order to give these species a second chance at life in the Sea.

Sharklab-Malta have announced that another 60, yes 60, Smallerspotted Catsharks will be released as part of the recovery and release programme supported by the Malta National Aquarium. The release is taking place on Saturday, the 3rd of October, at South Quay, Cirkewwa, the sharks will arrive on site at 9.30am and shortly afterwards they will enter the water and be set free, where they belong. Sharklab said that if you would like to witness this amazing event, then come along and bring along your family and friends. South Quay is located to the left of the Malta/Gozo ferry terminal. This release will bring the total amount of sharks released through the programme to 161…. An amazing number and more will be released in the near future.

Sharklab-Malta is an NGO which is dedicated to protecting sharks, rays and skates, known collectively as Elasmobranches, through research and awareness raising. The NGO is only 7 years old but has already forged an important,well defined niche for itself. They work with a number of important stakeholders like the Malta Tourism Association, Majjistral Park, Malta National Aquarium, GAIA Foundation and the Maltese Fisheries Department. Annually, they oversee around 30 students from local schools who learn how to research with Sharklab-Malta and get the opportunity to dissect shark jaws.

Sharklab-Malta is a non-profit voluntary organisation dedicated to protecting sharks, rays and skates, known collectively we Elasmobranches, through research and education around the Maltese islands.

On Saturday 13th June Sharklab-Malta will be releasing 6 Smaller Spotted Catsharks back to where they belong in the waters around the Maltese Islands. This will take the total number of sharks released to "101". This is part of the ongoing recovery and release program supported by the Malta National Aquarium. The fertilised eggs were removed from the "dead" females, landed by fishermen at the main wholesale market in Valletta, taken by members of Sharklab and placed into a controlled environment until after 6 months they hatched. The 6 being released are now 6 months old (post hatch).

Even under ideal circumstances, survival is no guarantee for newly hatched shark pups. But thanks to the helping hand of conservationists, several sharks that otherwise stood no chance at all are now swimming alive and free.

We are members of the Malta National Aquarium and all but live there. Generally, we take the girls at least twice a month and more often in warm weather. Sharklab Malta works in conjunction with the Aquarium in conservation efforts here in Malta, with sharks, rays and skates. Recently, they rescued shark eggs cases from the fish market (from the wombs of the mothers caught) and also from beach searches for eggs. The eggs were very successfully hatched at the Aquarium and now that the pups have grown well, were release back into the sea last weekend.

As part of the "Oviparous Species Recovery and Release Program" coordinated by Sharklab-Malta and supported by the Malta National Aquarium. We have the pleasure of inviting you see the release of 45 Smallspotted Catsharks, back into the waters around the Maltese Islands, where they belong. This will take place at South Quay, Nr Cirkewwa on Saturday 10th January. The sharks will arrive on site at 10.00 am and the release will take place shortly after. This is the largest single release of sharks to date through this program and all sharks being released were supported through their development at the Malta National Aquarium after being recovered as eggs from females landed by fishermen at the Pixxkerija (fish market), by Sharklab-Malta.

Six nurse hound shark pups hatched at Malta national aquarium were recently released into the sea. World Record Diving Malta organized the program in association with Project Aware. People gathered at the venue were given the opportunity to adopt a shark. Ongoing shark recovery and release program under the aegis of Malta National Aquarium received media attention. Malta marine center has already released seventeen sharks to the sea. Shark Lab Malta is the principal organizer of shark hatching program aimed at increasing awareness about shark finning. It is reported that eggs released from these sharks is preserved in a controlled environment. Sharks were released in an area where they had a best chance of survival.

Malta has many topside attractions, and all divers and snorkellers can help the Sharklab in collecting data about shark and ray sightings and found eggcases. The Sharklab always welcome visitors to the Maltese Islands the opportunity to get involved, and divers can participate in research dives.

Seven nurse hound shark pups were released into the sea in Cirkewwa this morning by the National Aquarium and Sharklab Malta. The pups had been rescued from the womb of their dead mother, who was on sale at the fish market. Volunteers from Sharklab Malta, an NGO, regularly visit the fish market to find pregnant sharks caught by fishermen. The eggs are removed and they are hatched and nursed at the National Aquarium.

Short clip of the second shark release organised by SharkLab-Malta and the Malta National Aquarium this weekend. Seven nursehound sharks were released back into the sea at Ċirkewwa. The sharks were hatched at the Malta National Aquarium after the eggs had been retrieved from dead sharks at the fish market.

Next Saturday, the 14th of June Sharklab-Malta and the Malta National Aquarium are organising the second release of Sharks through the Oviparous Species Recovery and Release Programme. In total 7 Nursehound (Scyliorhinus stellaris) pups will be set free…..back into the waters around Malta. They were recovered as eggs from their landed mothers at the main fish market in Valletta and cared for by members of Sharklab and the Malta National Aquarium.

Last Sunday during my visit to the National Aquarium I had the pleasure to meet some of the guys of Sharklab Malta. Greg Nowell, One of the founders shares his knowledge with incredible passion and I could immediately tell that this is a vocation for him and perhaps a very clear mission. An ongoing presentation was going on during the whole day as well as two stands full of exhibits varying from different small sharks to bones, jaws and megahuge Megalodon Teeth. All exhibits are collected without harming live specimens, which perhaps says it all on how serious and professional these people are.

Three 'pups' from a shark species known as the Nursehound, or Gattarell tar-Rukkal in Maltese, were this morning released into the Cirkewwa sea in a joint operation between Sharklab Malta and the Malta National Aquarium. Brought in a temperature-controlled bucket by the Malta National Aquarium, the pups were then carefully transferred in sea-temperature containers before being handed to awaiting divers. The six-months old pups, as the young of the shark are known, were then carefully released into an area where they will have the best chance of survival, in an area suited to their natural habitat.

A six-month journey that began with an extraordinary rescue ended in the successful release of three baby sharks into the open seas off Malta on Saturday in front of a sizable crowd of volunteers and onservationists,according to Malta Today. The nursehound sharks (Gattarell tar-Rukkal) were raised from eggs by the Malta National Aquarium, where they were nurtured until they became big enough to fend for themselves in the wild. The amazing part is where the eggs came from.

Three shark-pups hatched at the Malta National Aquarium were this morning released into the sea at Cirkewwa. The sharks are from the Nursehound species. The sharks were hatched in a project undertakenwith Sharklab-Malta. Sharklab is currently carrying out research as part of data collection at the wholesale fish market in Valletta.

Even under ideal circumstances, survival is no guarantee for newly hatched shark pups. But thanks to the helping hand of conservationists, several sharks that otherwise stood no chance at all are now swimming alive and free. Over the weekend, marine biologists in Malta released three bottom-feeding Nursehound shark pups into the open waters of the Mediterranean -- a journey six months in the making. Last year, the animals, then just embryos, were rescued from pregnant dead sharks being sold at a wholesale fish market. The eggs were then sent to the Malta National Aquarium to be hatched and cared for through the most vulnerable early stages of their lives. Aquarium curator Mike Hutchison tells Malta Today that the baby sharks, once destined to slowly perish on land, are now healthy and strong enough to fend for themselves at sea.

On Saturday 14th June Sharklab-Malta and the Malta National Aquarium would like to invite you to the second release of Sharks through the Oviparous Species Recovery and Release Program. In total 7 Nursehound (Scyliorhinus stellaris) pups will be set free.....back into the waters around Malta... The Release will take place at South Quay, Nr Cirkewwa from 9.00 am where there will be the opportunity to see the pups and wish them well before the release. I will be great to see as many supporters of this program and the joint work of Sharklab-Malta and the Malta National Aquarium as possible.

During discussions with Greg about the work of Sharklab-Malta, the subject of the embryological studies of egg laying sharks came into the conversation. This exciting research being conducted by Sharklab-Malta is carried out as part of data collection at the wholesale fish market in Valletta. During this research a wide range of shark species are seen and measured and of the species seen some reproduce through the laying of eggs. Members of the Sharklab-Malta team check these sharks specifically to see if eggs are present. If so, the eggs are removed and placed into a controlled environment to support development through to hatching. Support for this research has already been given through the Malta Aquaculture and Research Centre with the support of MCAST Agribuisness. During conversations Mike suggested the Aquarium could help with the hatching of the eggs, as the new Malta National Aquarium would have specialised systems that would be able to provide the controlled environment necessary also allowing for maintaining the water to the appropriate temperature.

A shark embryo wriggles in its egg as Donnha Barbara points at its tiny gills, noting it might be some six more months before it hatches. The nursehound egg lies alone in a fish tank next to other controlled aquariums housing small-spotted catshark eggs, another endangered species. Ms Barbara is following an extended diploma course in fish management and has a work placement at the Malta Aquaculture Research Centre She has been entrusted with a project in collab.ration with Sharklab Malta to hatch about 20 nursehound and small-spotted catshark eggs with the aim of reintroducing them in the wild to compensate for their declining numbers, as large quantities of the species are being caught by fishermen as by-catch.

unlogged (www.unlogged.co.uk), the dive centre guide, had the pleasure of joining Greg Nowell and his dedicated team of shark volunteers at several points throughout our time in Malta. The first time I experienced a day with Sharklab (http://www.sharklabmalta. org/) was when I met Greg at 6AM for a Saturday morning dive at the protected area around Filfla island.

Sharklab-Malta is organising a fundraising fun day for all the family, „Shark Fete,‟ which will take place at Golden Bay on Saturday. The event will include a shark exhibition, as well as talks and multimedia shows that will be held at the H20 dive centre. Sharklab-Malta is undertaking many different activities to try and play a part in making a difference for Elasmobranch (Sharks, Rays, Skates and Chimaeras), whose numbers have been on a downward spiral. Sharklab said, “we, as the human species, need to change our perception of these animals.

A baby shark has been artificially hatched at the Malta National Aquarium from an egg collected from a dead shark at a fish market, local media said on Thursday. The hatching programme was run by Sharklab Malta, a registered NGO and a non-profit voluntary organisation dedicated to research, education and to raise greater awareness about all Elasmobranch -- Sharks, Rays, Skates and Chimaeras

Amid concerns over the age, gender and type of shark species caught by fishermen, NGO Sharklab-Malta is pushing for the implementation of a minimum size for regularly caught shark species such as dogfish (mazzola), which could be one of seven different shark species. In an interview with this newspaper, Greg Nowell, co-founder of global organisation Sharklab and director of Sharklab-Malta, explained: “Eating shark is fine; the problem is that you don’t necessarily know what individual species you’re eating, and because mazzola, for instance, might be one of seven different species, you could be eating a type of shark that is on the brink of extinction.”

It’s a blustery February morning at Golden Bay. But the sun is out and so are the walkers, and the cafe in the corner is doing some trade. My son notices a small group of people poking at the flotsam and jetsam beached after the winter storms. Before I know it, he’s engaged in animated conversation with them.

Every time Greg Nowell, diver and initiator of Sharklab Malta went on holiday in Malta, he used to talk about how awesome it would be to live here in one of the world's best divemetropol.

Studies about sharks are being conducted at Għajn Tuffieħa Bay by NGOs SharkLab Malta and The Gaia Foundation to find out if there is a particular time of year when they breed most. "When we say we are doing shark studies, we are not only referring to the great white but to the entire shark family, including rays, dogfish and other such species," she said. About 36 recorded species of sharks, ranging in size from the small velvet belly to the massive basking shark, are found around Malta. But the numbers and the frequency of sightings are on a downward spiral. Sharks have been decreasing in massive numbers around Malta, within the Mediterranean and other seas year on year, with many species facing the real possibility of extinction. In the Mediterranean alone, blue shark populations have decreased by over 90 per cent in the last 10 years. "Unless the attitude towards sharks changes soon, what hope do they have?"