In an encouraging milestone for local marine conservation, the Malta National Aquarium, in collaboration with Sharklab Malta, has just released nine baby nursehound sharks back into their natural habitat.

The release, which took place over last weekend, is part of an ongoing rescue and rehabilitation project aimed at restoring local shark populations. These small, harmless bottom-dwellers – known for their distinctive spotted appearance – were originally rescued as eggs from local fish markets, where they were accidentally caught and would have otherwise perished.

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The baby sharks were nurtured and monitored at the Malta National Aquarium until they were strong enough to survive in the open sea. This initiative brings the total number of sharks released through this programme to an incredible 380 – each one a step towards rebalancing the marine ecosystem around the Maltese Islands.

The video shared by the aquarium captures the special moment these young sharks glided off into the sea, a powerful symbol of hope and resilience in local marine conservation.

This effort forms part of a broader mission to raise awareness about the importance of protecting even the lesser-known species in our waters. The nursehound shark may not be a household name, but its role in the underwater ecosystem is vital – and thanks to the continued work of the Malta National Aquarium and Sharklab Malta, it has a fighting chance to thrive once again.

So next time you're at the beach, remember: Malta’s waters are teeming with life, much of it quietly being restored, one shark at a time!

Have you ever seen one IRL?