Latest news with #marine conservation
The Guardian
3 days 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.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Science
- The Guardian
Critically endangered angel shark filmed off Welsh coast in first spotting since 2021
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. Our underwater cameras in Cardigan Bay give an incredible insight into our seabeds in West Wales. They recently captured an Angelshark, one of the world's rarest & most threatened shark species! 🦈Read the full story: 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.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
'Exciting encounter' with endangered shark in bay
One of the world's rarest sharks has been caught on camera in Cardigan Bay for the first time in four years. Sarah Perry, a marine conservation and research manager with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, said she was "thrilled" by the "rare and exciting encounter" with the angel shark which lives and hunts on the seabed. Critically endangered, the species was filmed on an underwater camera being used to study a group of bottlenose dolphins that make their home off the Welsh coast. The angel shark was common across the east Atlantic and Mediterranean seas but has declined because of a number of threats, including habitat disturbance and accidental fishing catch. Watch as people try to help 1.5m shark on shoreline Dolphin 'mysteries' to be solved by collecting poo Bottlenose dolphins spotted killing dolphin juvenile A juvenile angel shark was caught on camera in September 2021 in Cardigan Bay. Ms Perry said the latest sighting "comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in marine protected areas". "These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling," she said. Angel sharks, known as a "flat shark", spends much of the time camouflaged in the sediments on the seabed, where they lie in wait for fish. In 2019, experts said sightings suggested Wales could be a key habitat for the angel shark which has had a stronghold around the Canary Islands. Related stories Rare sharks found living off Wales Do rare angel sharks live all year in Wales' seas? Related internet links Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales
BBC News
4 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Rare Angel shark filmed in Cardigan Bay on underwater camera
One of the world's rarest sharks has been caught on camera in Cardigan Bay for the first time in four Perry, a marine conservation and research manager with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, said she was "thrilled" by the "rare and exciting encounter" with the angel shark which lives and hunts on the endangered, the species was filmed on an underwater camera being used to study a group of bottlenose dolphins that make their home off the Welsh angel shark was common across the east Atlantic and Mediterranean seas but has declined because of a number of threats, including habitat disturbance and accidental fishing catch. A juvenile angel shark was caught on camera in September 2021 in Cardigan Perry said the latest sighting "comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in marine protected areas". "These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling," she sharks, known as a "flat shark", spends much of the time camouflaged in the sediments on the seabed, where they lie in wait for 2019, experts said sightings suggested Wales could be a key habitat for the angel shark which has had a stronghold around the Canary Islands.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sea Turtle Rehab Center in Boca Raton is closing due to financial shortfall
After Blossom got sick and injured, she was given surgery and proper nutrition to heal. Eugene was 'cold-stunned' and covered in barnacles. Now, the juvenile sea turtles are improving — Blossom is on the brink of re-release, which she clearly is antsy for as she slaps her fins against the sides of her holding tank on a recent afternoon. And Eugene is 'Eating well!!!' according to notes about his recovery. They both received care at the Turtle Rehab Center within the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton. But the center closed for good on Friday and will not be taking in new turtles. The nonprofit conservation organization The Coastal Stewards, which is behind the center, cited 'ongoing financial challenges.' 'Like many environmental nonprofits, The Coastal Stewards has faced increasing difficulty securing consistent and sustainable funding,' Shivani Gupta, a Board of Trustee Member for The Coastal Stewards, said in a statement. 'This difficult decision allows us to reallocate resources and focus on our long-standing commitment to marine conservation education and empowering the next generation of ocean advocates.' The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, which is run by the city of Boca Raton, will stay open and continue its other conservation programs, such such as sea turtle nest protection and counting. Gumbo Limbo's three resident sea turtles — Lefty, Morgan and Lady McNubbins — will remain there for the duration of their lives. The Coastal Stewards board of trustees chair Ata Sarajedini said the organization had a shortfall in projected donations and did not see that changing. 'As the Coastal Stewards organization, we are still very much interested in conservation — beach conservation, marine life conservation, educating the future leaders in the area of environmental conservation,' Sarajedini said. 'So education and science education is still part of our mission.' Running the rehab center was an expensive aspect of The Coastal Steward's operations, so ceasing it may lead to the organization allocating more funds to educational goals. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will decide where to transfer the 13 sea turtles — potential new locations include Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach and Zoo Miami. Until then, they will remain at Gumbo Limbo and receive veterinary care. Most of the patients were harmed due to interaction with the human world, be it getting tangled in netting or fishing line, swallowing a fish hook or getting struck by a boat, said Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Manager Leann Welch. Some of the turtles also have a virus called Fibropapilloma, which can lead to tumors. The gift store operated by The Coastal Stewards inside the Nature Center has also closed. In a statement issued in response to the closure, Boca Raton city officials wrote that they 'remain open to exploring partnerships with other qualified nonprofit organizations that may be interested in continuing sea turtle rehabilitation on-site and will determine the best use of the gift shop space.'
