They are only about 30 to 40 centimeters long and yet ready for the North Sea: The [institution/organization] has eight small-spotted catsharks. Nordsee Aquarium The animals have now been released back into the wild on Borkum despite stormy seas. The operation was accompanied by the animals' sponsors, some of whom had traveled to the island specifically for this purpose.

For the sponsors, the day also offered a rare opportunity to accompany the animals on their journey to freedom. They retroactively covered the costs of feeding the sharks and were allowed to name their charges. Hainer and his companions were then commemorated with small plaques in the Nordsee Aquarium immortalized.

"It takes nine to ten months – sometimes even longer – for a catshark to hatch from its egg. Raising these animals therefore requires a great deal of patience and experience," explains Claudia Thorenmeier from Nordsee AquariumInitially, they were even fed with tweezers. At the time of their release, the young sharks are three to four years old. When fully grown, these nocturnal hunters measure up to one meter in length, making them the smallest sharks found in the North Sea.

For around 30 years, the aquarium on Borkum has been committed to breeding and releasing small-spotted catsharks into the wild. The aim is to support the return of catsharks to the North Sea and at the same time to impart knowledge about the animals and their conservation.

“Sharks are important for the marine ecosystem. As apex predators, they regulate populations,” Thorenmeier emphasizes. Unfortunately, many sharks are still caught or end up as bycatch in fishing nets. With this reintroduction, the aquarium continues its long-standing work to protect native marine species.