Oceanogràfic de València has named one of its sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus) Ferran Torres, in recognition of the Valencian footballer’s connection to marine conservation and, especially, to raising social awareness about the importance of protecting these animals. The player’s sporting nickname is, precisely, ‘the shark’.
According to a statement from Oceanogràfic, it is a male sandbar shark measuring nearly two meters in length, and with this decision, the Valencian aquarium “reinforces the message that these animals are emblematic and indispensable species for the functioning of ecosystems.”
The choice brings together several elements that connect the forward with the Valencian aquarium: Ferran Torres was born in Foios (Valencia), maintains a close relationship with his homeland, and is known sportingly as ‘the Shark’, a nickname he has incorporated into his identity on and off the field. Added to this connection is his role as the scorer of the goal that gave Spain victory in the last World Cup, as well as his status as ambassador for the Oceanogràfic Foundation during 2024 and 2025.
The footballer visited Oceanogràfic two years ago to learn firsthand about the work carried out by its conservation, research, education, and animal care teams. During the tour of the Oceans area and its underwater tunnel, he was able to learn about the biology of sharks, the threats facing their populations, and the projects promoted to favor their conservation, the same sources pointed out, adding that this collaboration continued in 2025.
Among the actions developed, they highlighted the visit of more than a hundred participants from the Ferran Torres Summer Campus, who enjoyed an educational day focused on marine biodiversity, animal knowledge, and the need to reduce human impacts on the oceans.
The sandbar shark is a slow-growing species with a particularly sensitive reproductive strategy. Females have prolonged gestation periods, a limited number of offspring, and do not reproduce every year. These characteristics reduce the recovery capacity of their populations against threats such as accidental fishing, overfishing, degradation of coastal habitats, and the trade of shark products. The species is listed as “endangered” on the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
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