Nine small-spotted catsharks have been born after their eggs were rescued from a fish market in Majorca when the fishmongers realised some of their catch was pregnant.

The egg cases were rescued from female catsharks sent to a market in the city of Palma de Majorca in the Spanish Balearic Islands.

While fishmongers were cleaning the catsharks, they discovered the egg cases and contacted an association called Cayume, which is in charge of a project called Eggcase 2020.

Nine eggs from small-spotted catsharks (Scyliorhinus canicula) have been born so far, five in April and the other four were born in early May.

Others are expected to be born soon in the incubation facilities at the agricultural department of the Balearic Islands’ government.

Cayume marine biologist Claudia Pich told Real Press that, after the egg cases were recovered from the market, the “incubation process is the most delicate part”.

Pich added: “The water temperature needs to be between 17 and 18 degrees so the embryos develop properly.

“Bear in mind these animals spawn in deep waters where the sea temperature is stable.”

Pich said that “once they hatch, generally at night, we put the offspring in another aquarium where we will keep them for a few weeks until we are sure that they are feeding properly”.

She said the catsharks are fed mussels, anchovy and squids greased with cod oil by workers.

Once they are feeding properly, they will be released into their natural habitat.

According to Pich, the Eggcase 2020 project “is a small act to prevent the loss of eggs, giving them a second chance to prosper in the sea and become adults.

“It is believed that around 53 percent of sharks, rays, and rabbit fish in the Mediterranean are endangered, according to the IUCN’s red list. Twenty species of sharks and rays are critically endangered and 18 species are threatened, and the Balearic Islands are not an exception.”

During the project, 120 eggs have been recovered, 90 of them from rays and 30 from sharks.

Eight rays from different species have been born thanks to the project, and six were released in the sea in November 2020.

The association is expecting more rays to be born at their facilities soon as the breeding season is about to start.

Small-spotted catsharks live in the waters around the Balearic Islands along with other species of sharks.

They can reach up to half a metre in length when adult and live at depths of between 50 and 400 metres.

Small Spotted Catsharks, which are also known as Lesser Spotted Dogfish, have been fished for hundreds of years and are often used in stews and casseroles.