Working with anglers to save England's sharks

Scientists lift lid on lives of three of Britain's most vulnerable shark species

Scientists have lifted a lid on the lives of three of England's most at-risk shark species.A new three-year research initiative led by the University of Exeter aims to shed light on the behaviour of porbeagle, tope (also known as school sharks), and blue sharks.Dr Lucy Hawkes, an associate professor co-leading the study alongside Dr Matthew Witt, secured close to £1million in funding from Natural England. The project brings together the Marine B…

Working with anglers to save England's sharks

I spent six days on a small fishing boat in the middle of the English Channel in July trying to catch a thresher shark. The weather was fickle, even at the height of summer. My colleague, ecologist Lucy Hawkes, and I were with two anglers who probably hold more experience of Channel thresher sharks than anyone alive. Between us, we caught nothing.

What anglers have taught me about saving England’s sharks

Thresher shark. Sean Steininger/ShutterstockI spent six days on a small fishing boat in the middle of the English Channel in July trying to catch a thresher shark. The weather was fickle, even at the height of summer. My colleague, ecologist Lucy Hawkes, and I were with two anglers who probably hold more experience of Channel thresher sharks than anyone alive. Between us, we caught nothing. Fourteen trips later, after countless more hours at sea…

Scientists lift lid on lives of three of Britain’s most vulnerable shark species

Scientists have lifted a lid on the lives of three of England’s most at-risk shark species. A new three-year research initiative led by the University of Exeter aims to shed light on the behaviour of porbeagle, tope (also known as school sharks), and blue sharks. Dr Lucy Hawkes, an associate professor co-leading the study alongside […]

£1m Study to Reveal Secret Lives of UK Sharks

Scientists are embarking on an ambitious three-year £1m study to reveal secret lives of UK sharks in a project to uncover more about the lives of some of the most vulnerable sharks found in English waters. Researchers from the University of Exeter will focus on blue sharks, porbeagles and tope, using electronic tagging, DNA analysis...