A new three-year project is underway to investigate three of England’s most vulnerable shark species: the porbeagle, tope, and blue shark. Dr. Lucy Hawkes, an associate professor at the University of Exeter, is co-leading the research.
The University of Exeter lab, run by Dr. Hawkes and Dr. Matthew Witt, has received almost £1m from Natural England. This funding will support collaboration with the Marine Biological Association, the Angling Trust, and the Pat Smith Database, which holds shark catch records dating back to 1953.
Researchers will use historical records, electronic tags, and recreational sightings to understand where and when these sharks are feeding, mating, and migrating. The project also aims to monitor changes in shark populations and distribution to inform conservation efforts.
Recreational anglers, estimated to be 3 million nationwide, will provide crucial information. Dr. Francesco Garzon, a marine biologist working on the project, noted that anglers are often conservation-conscious and passionate about protecting sharks. The team plans to conduct workshops and interview hundreds of anglers across England.
Forty tags, each costing £1,500, will be deployed for approximately 45 days to assess shark survival after catch-and-release practices. An additional 30 tags, costing around £4,500 each, will last about a year to reconstruct shark paths and diving depths. DNA samples will also be taken to map genetic connectivity.