Scientists are turning to recreational anglers for help in a three-year project to study three of England’s most vulnerable shark species: the porbeagle, the tope, and the blue shark. The initiative, led by the University of Exeter, aims to fill critical gaps in knowledge about the movements, behaviour, and population status of these animals, which are rarely seen and poorly understood despite living in British coastal waters.
Dr Lucy Hawkes, an associate professor at the University of Exeter and co-leader of the project, said the public often overlooks the sharks that inhabit UK seas. “We have really cool sharks,” she said. “I like the porbeagle, which looks like a baby great white shark. Surfers could see one and absolutely poop their pants, but they’re not dangerous. It’s amazing that we share the water with some pretty exciting animals.”
The porbeagle, tope, and blue shark are all listed as vulnerable or near-threatened in UK waters, yet detailed data on their seasonal movements, breeding grounds, and feeding habits remain scarce. The project will rely on anglers who catch these sharks to record sightings, tag individuals, and provide tissue samples, turning a traditionally consumptive activity into a conservation tool.
Anglers have long been a source of anecdotal information about shark catches, but this project aims to standardise data collection and make it scientifically robust. Participants will be trained to identify species, measure size, and attach satellite or acoustic tags that track the sharks’ movements over months. The resulting data will help researchers understand migration routes, habitat use, and potential overlaps with fishing activity, which is essential for designing effective management measures.
The project is particularly timely because several of these species are caught incidentally in commercial fisheries, and their populations have declined historically. The porbeagle, for example, was heavily fished in the mid-20th century and has been slow to recover. Blue sharks, meanwhile, are among the most widely distributed sharks in the world, but their North Atlantic population is considered vulnerable. Tope, a smaller coastal shark, faces pressure from both commercial and recreational fisheries.
By involving anglers, the researchers hope to build a long-term monitoring network that can continue beyond the project’s three-year span. Hawkes emphasised that the collaboration is not just about data but also about changing perceptions. “These are not monsters,” she said. “They are part of our marine ecosystem, and we have a responsibility to understand and protect them.”
The project is one of several recent efforts in the UK to study elasmobranchs, the group that includes sharks, rays, and skates. Conservation groups have long called for better data on these species, which are often overshadowed by more charismatic terrestrial wildlife. The new study is expected to produce the first comprehensive picture of the movements and habitat preferences of these sharks in English waters, providing a scientific basis for future conservation policies.
Anglers interested in participating can contact the university through the project’s website, where they will find guidelines on how to report catches and handle sharks safely. The researchers stress that all tagging is done under strict ethical guidelines and that the welfare of the animals is a top priority.
The project is funded by a grant from the Natural Environment Research Council, and the team will work closely with the Marine Management Organisation and local fishing communities. Results are expected to be published in peer-reviewed journals and shared with policymakers to inform marine protected area design and fisheries regulations.
