Sharks in the Southwest of England

A surprising diversity of sharks, skates and rays are found around the coast of the UK with around 50 species recorded. Some are only regularly seen by researchers and commercial fishermen, such as the deep-water sharks and skates. Others such as the Common Eagle Ray (Myliobatis aquila), and the Smooth Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna zygaena), are extremely rare visitors which may occasionally be caught or found washed up on the shore.

If angling in the Southwest, there are around 15 species that can be encountered regularly. In addition to these, some rarer species are occasionally caught such as the Common Stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca), and the Marbled Torpedo Ray (Torpedo marmorata). The population structures and movements of these animals is still poorly understood and angling records are one of the best sources of information available.

Click on the images below to find out how you can identify the most commonly caught sharks, skates and rays in the Southwest of England using the Shark Trust ID Guides. Additional shark and skate and ray ID guides can be found in the resources section.


Sharks:

Blackmouth Catshark © Marc Dando.
Blackmouth Catshark

Galeus melastomus
Blue Shark © Marc Dando.
Blue Shark

Prionace glauca
Common Smoothhound © Marc Dando.
Common Smoothhound

Mustelus mustelus
Nursehound © Marc Dando.
Bull Huss/Nursehound

Scyliorhinus stellaris
Porbeagle Shark © Marc Dando.
Porbeagle Shark

Lamna nasus
Smallspotted Catshark © Marc Dando.
Smallspotted Catshark

Scyliorhinus canicula
Spiny Dogfish © Marc Dando.
Spurdog/Spiny Dogfish

Squalus acanthias
Starry Smoothhound © Marc Dando.
Starry Smoothhound

Mustelus asterias
Tope Shark © Marc Dando.
Tope

Galeorhinus galeus
     

Skates and Rays:

Blonde Ray © Marc Dando.
Blonde Ray
Raja brachyura
Cuckoo Ray © Marc Dando.
Cuckoo Ray

Leucoraja naevus
Small-eyed Ray © Marc Dando.
Small-eyed Ray

Raja microocellata
Spotted Ray © Marc Dando.
Spotted Ray

Raja montagui
Thornback Ray © Marc Dando.
Thornback Ray

Raja clavata
Undualte Ray © Marc Dando.
Undulate Ray

Raja undulata