UK researchers launch three-year study to track vulnerable shark species
A University of Exeter-led project will monitor porbeagle, tope and blue sharks in British waters using tags and angler reports.
Scientists from the University of Exeter have secured close to £1 million from Natural England to study three of England’s most at-risk shark species: porbeagle, tope and blue shark. The programme partners with the Marine Biological Association, the Angling Trust and the historic Pat Smith Database, tapping reports from roughly three million recreational anglers. Tagging will involve 40 short-duration devices costing £1,500 each and 30 longer-lasting tags priced around £4,500, allowing researchers to track movements and post-release survival for up to a year.
Genetic material collected during tagging will help determine how populations in the UK relate to those off France. Findings are expected to inform conservation strategies, especially concerning commercial fishing and by-catch hotspots. The study also highlights the role of dedicated anglers, likened to bird-ringers, in advancing marine science.
