Rare Guitarfish Gather on Israeli Mediterranean Coastlines This Fall

Beachgoers along Israel's Mediterranean coast in the coming weeks may encounter a unique natural phenomenon: large gatherings of young guitarfish. These cartilaginous fish, closely related to sharks, are congregating in shallow waters as part of their seasonal cycle. Female guitarfish arrived near the shore during the summer to give birth, and now, in the autumn, the juveniles are staying in the shallows where they face fewer predators.

According to the Shark Association of Israel, this event occurs annually for about two and a half months. Young Atlantic guitarfish, which can grow up to two meters long as adults, are found resting on wet sand in the shallowest waves. The Israeli coastline serves as a crucial nursery area, providing food and protection for the young fish, thereby increasing their chances of survival.

Occasionally, these young guitarfish can be seen briefly emerging from the water and resting on the wet sand before returning to the sea. In deeper waters, adult guitarfish measuring up to two meters can be found.

Beyond the Atlantic guitarfish, other species found in Israeli waters include the Halavi guitarfish in the Gulf of Eilat, the common guitarfish prevalent in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, and the spotted guitarfish, discovered in the late 1980s, about which limited information is available regarding its distribution in Israel.