www.sharktrust.org

Sharks in British Waters

Contrary to popular belief sharks do occur around the coasts of Britain. At least 30 species1, of shark occur around the coasts of Britain, from the Small-Spotted Catshark to the large streamlined Porbeagle and plankton eating Basking Shark. At least half of British sharks, including the Dogfish, Porbeagle and Basking Shark, are resident off the British coast all year-round. Blue Sharks and Makos are seasonal visitors, appearing in British waters in summer during their trans-Atlantic migrations. A few species, Smooth Hammerhead and Frilled Shark may be vagrants, occurring infrequently off the British coast, with their main distribution ranges being outside British waters. At least 11 shark species, including the Portuguese Dogfish, Black Dogfish, Kite Fin Shark and Gulper Sharks are only found in deep water.

Vulnerable Sharks grow and mature slowly. They have long pregnancies and give birth to very few young. This makes them incredibly susceptible to overfishing. Sharks are caught for their meat, some solely for their fins and others are caught accidentally whilst fishing for other ‘target’ species (bycatch). This has led to a huge decline in numbers of sharks found in our seas. In the 1940s 35,000 Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) were caught off Plymouth each day, this has declined to less than 20.2

Endangered The IUCN red list of threatened species3 states that more than 50% of British shark species and 30% of EU shark species are threatened. Angelsharks, Spiny Dogfish and Porbeagles are critically endangered in the North-East Atlantic, Basking Sharks and Tope are vulnerable and the Short-Fin Mako, Blue Shark and Smooth Hammerhead are near threatened.

Protection Within UK and wider European waters sharks benefit from little management or protection. Basking sharks are protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act (WCA)4 and are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as well as listing on the Convention for Migratory Species (CMS). The Angelshark is also protected under Schedule 5 of the WCA in English waters out to 6 nautical miles. Tope are protected in English and Welsh waters through a ban on commercial fishing with a 45kg per day bycatch limit. Spiny Dogfish and Porbeagle Sharks are subject to a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) with a ban on target fisheries by UK vessels.

Shark Products Globally shark products have many different uses, but specifically in the UK:

• During World War II some fighter planes used shark oil to lubricate their instruments.5 • Sharkskin has been used on handles of swords. • Dried dogfish skin has been used as sandpaper. • Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) is sold in fish & chip shops as Rock salmon. • Shark liver oil is used as a vitamin supplement and in cosmetics, and in skin creams. 4 • Shark liver oil was used for lighting and its use is documented since at least the 17th

Century.

Shark Facts • Basking sharks are the second largest fish in the sea • Shortfin mako sharks are thought to be the fastest shark, reaching speeds of 20mph • Greenland sharks are the only sharks to be found in Arctic waters.

Danger danger Although sharks inhabit our waters you are unlikely to encounter them on a trip to the beach. Many shark species are becoming quite rare so any encounter should be seen as a privilege. Most species of shark are completely harmless to people, with only a tiny minority recorded as ‘attacking’ humans. Despite this shark attack is one of the most feared natural dangers to humans. Reports of shark attacks in European waters are extremely rare, according to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), 7 since 1847, there have only been two unprovoked shark attacks in England neither of which proved fatal. Many more people are injured and killed each year by bee stings, snakes, crocodiles or tigers than by sharks.

Current Research Recreational anglers are tagging sharks around our waters to gather information on things such as distribution, numbers and growth. As well as observational studies, scientists are using satellite technology to provide information on basking sharks in European waters8. The European Basking Shark Photo-identification Project (EBSPiP)9 uses photos to match and trace shark movements.

How can you help? Adopt a basking shark (or great white shark) Join the Shark Trust Become a volunteer presenter with the Shark Trust.

www.sharktrust.org

Which sharks? (1,6)

Frilled shark*

Chlamydoselachus anguineus

Length: 200cm (m) 150cm (f) Eats: seabed bony fish & sharks Found: NE Atlantic Depth: over 200m Occurrence: vagrant ♦

Basking shark*

Cetorhinus maximus

Length: 700-900cm Eats: Plankton Found: all British coasts, common in summer. Occurrence: resident ▲

Seven-gilled shark* Heptranchias perlo

Length: 100cm (m) 140cm (f) Eats: small bony fish & cephalopods Found: only 2 found, S Ireland & S Cornwall Depth: Deep water Occurrence: vagrant ♦

Shortfin mako*

Isurus oxyrinchus

Length: 390cm Eats: bony fish & sharks Found: SW Cornwall, S Ireland. Depth: Surface to 400m Occurrence: vagrant ●

Six-gilled shark, cow shark

Hexanachus griseus

Length: 482cm (max) usually 150-220cm Eats: bony fish, crustaceans, sharks Found: W Ireland and Scotland, Celtic Sea. Rarely in North Sea Depth: Deep water (200-1000m) Occurrence: resident ♦

Porbeagle*

Lamna nasus

Length: 300cm Eats: bony fish, squid Found: off all coasts Occurrence: resident

■

Bramble shark Echinorhinus brucus

Length: 275cm (max) Eats: small bony fish & sharks Found: SW England & North Sea. Depth: 400-900m Occurrence: vagrant ♠

Black-mouthed dogfish

Galeus melastomus

Length: 61cm (m) 90cm (f) Eats: bony fish, crustaceans Found: W Scotland & Ireland. Depth: Deep water (400m) Occurrence: resident ♣

Darkie charlie, kite fin

shark Dalactias licha

Length: 185cm (max) Eats: bony fish, crustaceans, & cephalopods Found: W Ireland & Scotland. Rarely N North Sea and off Holland. Depth: Deep water Occurrence: resident ●

Small-spotted catshark

Scyliorhinus canicula

Length: 80cm Eats: worms, cod, flatfish Found: all British coasts Depth: shallow water Occurrence: resident ♣

Velvet belly

Etmopterus spinax

Length: 60cm (max) Eats: shrimps, bony fish & cephalopods Found: Along the west from Iceland to Portugal. North Sea in August. Depth: Deep water Occurrence: resident ♦

Bull Huss

Scyliorhinus stellaris

Length: 162cm Eats: molluscs, crustaceans, bony fish, cephalopods Found: English Channel, Irish Sea. Sometimes W Scotland. Occurrence: resident ♦

Greenland shark Somniosus microcephalus

Length: 640cm (max) Eats: bony fish & sharks. Sometimes seals Found: NW Scotland, N North Sea Occurrence: resident ♦

Tope Galeorhinus galeus

Length: 175cm Eats: bony fish, crustaceans Found: all British Coasts Occurrence: resident ♠

Spurdog, spiny dogfish

Squalus acanthias

Length: 90cm (m) 120cm (f) Eats: Bony fish & crustaceans Found: around all British Coasts Occurrence: resident ■

Smoothound

Mustelus mustelus

Length: 160cm Eats: crustaceans, small bony fish, worms Found: English Channel, Irish Sea Occurrence: resident ♣

Angel shark (monkfish)

Squatina squatina

Length: 180 cm (max) Eats: Flat fish, whelks and crabs Found: W England, Ireland Scotland, & Wales. Rare in North Sea. Depth: Shallow water (<100m) Occurrence: Resident ■

Starry smoothhound

Mustelus asterias

Length: 150cm Eats: seabed invertebrates Found: all coasts of Britain except Scotland Occurrence: resident ♣

Thresher shark, Alopias vulpinus

Length: 600cm Eats: schools of fish (e.g. mackerel & pilchards) Found: S Cornwall, along to Isle of Wight. Occasionally off Pembrokeshire. Rarely in North Sea or Scottish waters. Occurrence: resident ♦

Blue Shark Prionace glauca

Length: 383cm Eats: small bony fish, cephalopods Found: SW Devon & Cornwall, S & W Ireland. Occurrence: seasonal (migrate into British waters May-September) ♦

1.Vas, P., 1991. A field guide to sharks of British coastal waters. 2.Shark Trust, 1993. Sharks in Danger, volunteer presenters slide pack 3.www.redlist.org 4.www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside 5.MacQuitty, M., 1992. Shark. 6.Miller, P. & Loates, M., 1997. Collins Pocket Guide: Fish 7.www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Sharks/ISAF/ISAF.htm 8. www.cefas.co.uk 9. www.baskingsharks.co.uk Images Ian Fergusson, Marc Dando

Hammerhead

Sphyrna zygaena

Length: 400cm Found: S Devon & Cornwall, Wales. Occurrence: vagrant (very rarely seen) ●

Key: ■ – Critically Endangered, ▲ – Endangered, ● – Vulnerable, ♦ - Near Threatened, ♣ - Least Concern, ♠ - Data Deficient