Latest news with #SarahPerry
BBC News
a day ago
- Science
- BBC News
Rare angel shark spotted off Welsh coast
One of the world's rarest species of shark has been spotted off the coast of Cardigan Bay in Wales. The angel shark is critically endangered and conservationists have described the sight as "rare and exciting".It was recorded by underwater cameras that were being used to study a group of bottlenose dolphins. The last time this species was seen off the Welsh coast was in 2021 and dives are planned for later this year to see if there are more in the area. Angel sharks - also known as a flat shark - are usually found in coastal areas in the east Atlantic and Mediterranean seas and Wales is thought to be a key habitat. They spend a lot of their time camouflaged with the seabed where they wait for a fishy feast. But according the IUCN red list, the angel shark is critically endangered. It's partly because they are slow growing and are slow at reproducing too. But it's also because fishing techniques like bottom trawling not only disturb their habitat, but can also catch the sharks or injure them while they lie in wait for their prey. Sarah Perry, a marine conservation and research manager with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, said: "These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling."
ITV News
2 days ago
- Science
- ITV News
Critically endangered Angelshark caught on camera in Cardigan Bay seabed
One of the world's rarest sharks has been captured on camera off the coast in west Wales. An underwater camera deployed by researchers at The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales (WTSWW) caught the critically endangered Angelshark on the seabed along Cardigan Bay. I i's the first time the species has been seen on film in the area since 2021. 'We were thrilled to record an Angelshark in Cardigan Bay, a rare and exciting encounter," Dr Sarah Perry, Marine Conservation and Research Manager at WTSWW, said. "This sighting comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK Government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas. "Our Dolphin Diet Detectives project, funded by the Welsh Government through the Nature Networks Fund, uses underwater cameras to reveal the incredible diversity of life on the seabed. These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling." The Baited Underwater Remote Video Systems (BRUVS) were deployed by a research team as part of the Dolphin Diet Detectives project, investigating dolphin diets and marine diversity in Cardigan Bay. The BRUVS were deployed in a range of habitats and left to record for just one hour at each location. The cameras have captured a huge range of wildlife both inside and outside of the protected areas, including Spider Crabs, Wrasse, and most recently an Angelshark. Angelsharks are suffering significant declines as a result of fishing and habitat degradation. They live on the seabed where they are well camouflaged to ambush flatfishes, crustaceans and molluscs. But their bottom dwelling lifestyle makes them vulnerable to being caught in trawl nets, and along with their slow reproduction rate this puts them at a high risk of extinction. The Wildlife Trusts says even Marine Protected Areas, of which there are 139 in Wales, are not yet fully protected from destructive fishing activities such as bottom trawling, where huge nets and chains are dragged along the ocean floor, bulldozing anything in their way.
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Science
- Rhyl Journal
Watch as rare angel shark swims through Cardigan Bay
The angel shark was caught by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales' (WTSWW) underwater cameras in Cardigan Bay. Angel sharks are critically endangered, having suffered "significant decline" as a result of fishing and habitat degradation. The footage came as part of National Marine Week, which runs from July 26 to August 10. The angel shark was captured on WTSWW's Baited Underwater Remote Video Systems (BRUVS) which had been deployed by a research team investigating dolphin diets and marine diversity in Cardigan Bay. Dr Sarah Perry, marine conservation and research manager at WTSWW, said: 'We were thrilled to record an angel shark in Cardigan Bay, a rare and exciting encounter. 'Before this project started, angel sharks hadn't been captured on film in Cardigan Bay since 2021. 'This sighting comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK Government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas. 'Our Dolphin Diet Detectives project, funded by the Welsh Government through the Nature Networks Fund, uses underwater cameras to reveal the incredible diversity of life on the seabed. 'These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling.' The cameras were deployed in a range of habitats and left to record for just one hour at each location. They have captured a huge range of wildlife both inside and outside of marine protected areas, including spider crabs, wrasse, and most recently, the angel shark. The WTSWW say that even marine protected areas, of which there are 139 in Wales, are not yet fully protected from destructive fishing activities. Quick to comment on the news on social media, Facebook users shared their delight on Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre's post. One user wrote: "So wonderful to see." While another said: "What awesome footage!" A third commented: "A dream sighting!!!!!" Recommended Reading: Where to find great white sharks - are there any in the UK? Great white sharks could be found in UK waters soon according to marine experts 400-year-old carnivorous sharks found lurking in the depths of British waters Angel sharks are flat-bodied sharks which can grow up to 2.4m in length and are normally found submerged in sandy habitats in coastal waters. They are well camouflaged to ambush flatfishes, crustaceans and molluscs. Living on the seabed makes the sharks vulnerable to being caught in trawl nets, which along with their slow reproduction rate, puts them at a high risk of extinction.
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Science
- South Wales Guardian
Watch as rare angel shark swims through Cardigan Bay
The angel shark was caught by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales' (WTSWW) underwater cameras in Cardigan Bay. Angel sharks are critically endangered, having suffered "significant decline" as a result of fishing and habitat degradation. The footage came as part of National Marine Week, which runs from July 26 to August 10. The angel shark was captured on WTSWW's Baited Underwater Remote Video Systems (BRUVS) which had been deployed by a research team investigating dolphin diets and marine diversity in Cardigan Bay. Dr Sarah Perry, marine conservation and research manager at WTSWW, said: 'We were thrilled to record an angel shark in Cardigan Bay, a rare and exciting encounter. 'Before this project started, angel sharks hadn't been captured on film in Cardigan Bay since 2021. 'This sighting comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK Government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas. 'Our Dolphin Diet Detectives project, funded by the Welsh Government through the Nature Networks Fund, uses underwater cameras to reveal the incredible diversity of life on the seabed. 'These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling.' The cameras were deployed in a range of habitats and left to record for just one hour at each location. They have captured a huge range of wildlife both inside and outside of marine protected areas, including spider crabs, wrasse, and most recently, the angel shark. The WTSWW say that even marine protected areas, of which there are 139 in Wales, are not yet fully protected from destructive fishing activities. Quick to comment on the news on social media, Facebook users shared their delight on Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre's post. One user wrote: "So wonderful to see." While another said: "What awesome footage!" A third commented: "A dream sighting!!!!!" Recommended Reading: Where to find great white sharks - are there any in the UK? Great white sharks could be found in UK waters soon according to marine experts 400-year-old carnivorous sharks found lurking in the depths of British waters Angel sharks are flat-bodied sharks which can grow up to 2.4m in length and are normally found submerged in sandy habitats in coastal waters. They are well camouflaged to ambush flatfishes, crustaceans and molluscs. Living on the seabed makes the sharks vulnerable to being caught in trawl nets, which along with their slow reproduction rate, puts them at a high risk of extinction.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
One of the world's rarest sharks captured on camera in UK 'dream sighting'
One of the world's rarest shark species has been captured on an underwater camera as it swam through a Welsh bay. The angel shark was caught by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales' (WTSWW) underwater cameras in Cardigan Bay. Angel sharks are critically endangered, having suffered "significant decline" as a result of fishing and habitat degradation. The footage came as part of National Marine Week, which runs from July 26 to August 10. The angel shark was captured on WTSWW's Baited Underwater Remote Video Systems (BRUVS) which had been deployed by a research team investigating dolphin diets and marine diversity in Cardigan Bay. Dr Sarah Perry, marine conservation and research manager at WTSWW, said: 'We were thrilled to record an angel shark in Cardigan Bay, a rare and exciting encounter. 'Before this project started, angel sharks hadn't been captured on film in Cardigan Bay since 2021. 'This sighting comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK Government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas. 'Our Dolphin Diet Detectives project, funded by the Welsh Government through the Nature Networks Fund, uses underwater cameras to reveal the incredible diversity of life on the seabed. The Largest National Parks in the UK 'These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling.' The cameras were deployed in a range of habitats and left to record for just one hour at each location. They have captured a huge range of wildlife both inside and outside of marine protected areas, including spider crabs, wrasse, and most recently, the angel shark. The WTSWW say that even marine protected areas, of which there are 139 in Wales, are not yet fully protected from destructive fishing activities. How have people reacted online? Quick to comment on the news on social media, Facebook users shared their delight on Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre's post. One user wrote: "So wonderful to see." While another said: "What awesome footage!" A third commented: "A dream sighting!!!!!" Recommended Reading: Where to find great white sharks - are there any in the UK? Great white sharks could be found in UK waters soon according to marine experts 400-year-old carnivorous sharks found lurking in the depths of British waters What is an angel shark? Angel sharks are flat-bodied sharks which can grow up to 2.4m in length and are normally found submerged in sandy habitats in coastal waters. They are well camouflaged to ambush flatfishes, crustaceans and molluscs. Living on the seabed makes the sharks vulnerable to being caught in trawl nets, which along with their slow reproduction rate, puts them at a high risk of extinction.
