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ISRA FACTSHEETS

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ISRA FACTSHEETS

EUROPEAN ATLANTIC

Grutas Marinhas do Funchal ISRA

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Grutas Marinhas do Funchal ISRA

Grutas Marinhas do Funchal

Summary

Grutas Marinhas do Funchal is located on the southern coast of Madeira Island, Portugal. The habitat is characterised by steep, south-facing volcanic cliffs interspersed with a series of sea caves with rocky substrates. Within this area there are: threatened species and undefined aggregations (Common Smoothhound Mustelus mustelus).

Grutas Marinhas do Funchal

Grutas Marinhas do Funchal

DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT

Grutas Marinhas do Funchal is located on the southern coast of Madeira Island, Portugal. It is situated between Praia Formosa and Lido beaches. The habitat is characterised by steep, south-facing volcanic cliffs interspersed with a series of sea caves. The substrate within these caves and along the connecting shore is heterogeneous and transitions from consolidated volcanic rock to unconsolidated boulders and sand with depth (McIvor et al. 2023).

The region is influenced by a surface current resulting from the interaction of the Azores and Portugal currents, forming the cold Canary Current, which is further reinforced by upwelling along the Moroccan coast. The predominant water mass in the area is the Central Water, characterised by temperatures of 9–19°C and salinity between 35.1–36.7 (Araújo et al. 2008).

This Important Shark and Ray Area is benthic and pelagic and is delineated from inshore and surface waters (0 m) to 18 m based on the depth range of habitat in the area.

CRITERION A

VULNERABILITY

One Qualifying Species considered threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species regularly occurs in the area. This is the Endangered Common Smoothhound (Jabado et al. 2021).

CRITERION C

SUB-CRITERION C5 – UNDEFINED AGGREGATIONS

Grutas Marinhas do Funchal is an important area for undefined aggregations of one shark species.

Data were gathered from opportunistic scientific observations and community sourced images from one cave in the area. This cave has an approximate area of 18 m2 and is accessible through a tunnel (Tunel das Poças do Gomes) that connects natural pools (Doca do Cavacas) and an open beach (Praia Formosa). Between 2015–2020, aggregations of Common Smoothhounds were predictably observed between June and October in the area (McIvor et al. 2023). During this period, aggregations of 7–50+ Common Smoothhounds were opportunistically observed approximately once every 2–4 weeks (McIvor et al. 2023). Aggregations were formed by juvenile and subadult males and females (visually estimated between 50–70 cm total length [TL]). Individuals of 50–55 cm TL represented approximately 50–60% of the individuals within each aggregation (AJ McIvor pers. obs. 2022). Size-at-birth for Common Smoothhound is 34–42 cm TL and size-at-maturity ranges from 70–124 cm TL suggesting the majority of individuals were young-of-the-year (Ebert et al. 2021).  Aggregations of juveniles and subadults were also reported nearshore in the Canary Islands between May–August supporting the importance of this type of habitat for the species during this life stage (Espino et al. 2022). This is the only area in Madeira Island where aggregations of more than 10 individual Common Smoothhounds are reported (AJ McIvor pers. obs. 2025). Further information is required to understand the nature and function of these aggregations.

Grutas Marinhas do Funchal

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