Sharks
Small Shark Tagging Programme
We have run a successful Shark Tagging Programme since 2013. A whole-community project, we have brought together scientists, conservationists and recreational anglers, breaking down social barriers through a shared love of the sea. Our aim is to discover more about the threatened sharks of the Irish Sea. We train up volunteer ‘taggers’ who catch & release sharks, undertaking identification and biometrics of their catch before fitting a small, harmless and uniquely numbered tag. The location is logged, forming part of a growing evidence base for protecting areas of seabed from destructive fishing techniques via designation of marine nature reserves. To date 572 sharks have been tagged: Bull Huss & Thornback Ray (both Near Threatened), Spurdog (Vulnerable) & Tope (Critically Endangered). We have 21 species in Manx waters and despite more than half of these species being listed by IUCN as threatened, only one species is protected under Manx law. We seek to change this.
WildNet - Amy Lewis
Sharks around the Isle of Man
At least 21 species live in Manx waters, including 12 species of shark and 9 ray or skate species. They include the critically endangered Tope, Angel-shark/Monkfish and Common skate and the endangered Basking shark, Smooth-hound and White/Bottlenose skate.
You may find evidence of Smallspotted Catsharks or Nursehounds on your local beach. These species reproduce by laying eggs and you can often find their empty eggcases, known as mermaid's purses, washed up in the high-tide line.
To read more about our Small Shark Tagging click here: Small Shark Tagging | Manx Wildlife Trust (mwt.im)
You can read about our Biodiversity Action Plan for Manx shark and ray species below.
Biodiversity Action Plan - Sharks & Rays
