Latest news with #WTSWW
ITV News
8 hours 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.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Science
- The Guardian
Critically endangered angel shark filmed off Welsh coast
One of the world's rarest sharks has been filmed off the Welsh coast, offering a fleeting glimpse into the life of a species teetering on the brink of extinction. Underwater footage shows a critically endangered angel shark swimming through the waters of Cardigan Bay – the first time it has been recorded on film in the area since 2021. The shark was captured by cameras deployed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW), designed to monitor biodiversity as part of a project investigating marine life in the region, many of which are under threat from human activities. 'We were thrilled to record an angel shark in Cardigan Bay, a rare and exciting encounter,' said Dr Sarah Perry, marine conservation and research manager at WTSWW. 'Before this project started, angel sharks hadn't been captured on film in Cardigan Bay since 2021.' Angel sharks are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, with populations in steep decline due to habitat loss and commercial fishing. With numbers of the species falling, the shark is especially vulnerable to bottom trawling – the industrial fishing practice of dragging vast, weighted nets along the sea floor, scooping up everything in their path. 'While Cardigan Bay and other vital habitats are full of incredible wildlife and store vast amounts of carbon, yet they are threatened with destruction by industrial-scale fishing in many areas,' WTSWW said. Despite the decline, Dr Perry said the sighting 'comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in marine protected areas'. And while Wales has 139 designated marine protected areas (MPAs), conservationists say many still remain exposed to damaging activities such as trawling, dredging and even seabed mining. Angel sharks – slow to reproduce and adapted to life near the ocean floor – are particularly susceptible to these pressures. The UK parliament's environmental audit committee has recommended a full ban on bottom trawling within MPAs, calling for stronger protection of marine habitats across the board. Ministers have previously suggested they might take action, and while protections exist against harmful fishing practices in around 60% of marine protected areas, a full ban has yet to be implemented. Environmental groups warn that without urgent and comprehensive protection, species like the angel shark could disappear entirely from UK waters. The Wildlife Trusts are urging the public to take part in an open UK government consultation on banning bottom trawling in MPAs, which remains open over the summer.
Rhyl Journal
2 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
2 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
2 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.
