Social-media records of guitarfish sales in El-Arish, Egypt: Implications for conservation

Basem Rabia

ORCID ID: 0009-0007-7036-3906

Nature Conservation Sector, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), Cairo, EGYPT

Abstract

Guitarfishes are coastal rays vulnerable to fishing pressure in Mediterranean waters. Seven seafood-retailer videos posted on social media platforms from El-Arish, North Sinai, Egypt, between 7 and 23 June 2026 were examined as opportunistic records of guitarfish retail availability. Six showed whole guitarfish-like rays and one showed processed product. The visible morphology did not permit reliable distinction between Rhinobatos and Glaucostegus. Minimum visually distinguishable counts summed to 74 across the six whole-animal videos; the sum of record-level counts and conditional estimates was approximately 101-177. These observations document repeated market availability but do not establish catch location, maturity or seasonal aggregation. Species verification, landing-to-market traceability and targeted compliance checks are recommended.

Keywords: Guitarfish, Rhinopristiformes, seafood retail, social media, North Sinai, fisheries conservation

Pages: 133-140

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