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  • angel-sharks
  1. What We Do
  2. Saving Species
  3. Angel Sharks

Angel Sharks

CHAMPIONING SOME OF THE OCEAN'S MOST VULNERABLE SPECIES


ABOUT ANGEL SHARKS

Angel sharks* are large, flat-bodied, bottom dwelling species. As ambush predators, they lie in wait for unsuspecting prey (particularly flatfish) to swim past. There are at least 22 species of angel shark making up the family Squatinidae – which is the third most threatened family of elasmobranchs after sawfishes.

The habitat preference of angel sharks leaves them particularly vulnerable to fishing and habitat degradation. As a result, many species have suffered steep population declines and now face a high risk of extinction. Half of these species are now listed in a threat category (5 Critically Endangered, 2 Endangered, and 4 Vulnerable) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

*angel shark vs Angelshark:
‘angel shark’ (as two words) refers to multiple species in the family Squatinidae
‘Angelshark’ (as one word) is used within species common names.


ANGEL SHARK CONSERVATION

We’ve been working to better protect angel sharks for over a decade now. We helped first secure protection for the Angelshark (Squatina squatina) in England and Wales in 2008 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and then under the Scottish Elasmobranch Protection Order. In terms of conservation planning, we co-authored the Angelshark Action Plan for the Canary Islands, led on the development of the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Angel Shark Conservation Strategy and now are leading on the Mediterranean Angel Sharks: Regional Action Plan. We’re also on the Steering Group for the Angel Shark Project: Wales, an exciting new project working through fisher-participation, heritage, and citizen science.

The Angelshark is now protected across much of its current range. It’s listed as a Prohibited Species under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) as well as receiving domestic protection in a number of countries. Regulations do exist for management and protection of all three Mediterranean species - Sawback Angelshark (S. aculeata), Smoothback Angelshark (S. oculata), and Angelshark (S. squatina) - however not all are implemented. This is our current focus.

Click on the drop down menus below to find out more about our work on angel sharks.


Funded By:

Logos: Disney Conservation Fund, Foundation Ensemble & Shark Conservation Fund

ANGELSHARK ACTION PLAN FOR THE CANARY ISLANDS

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The Angelshark was once common in the Northeast Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea, but their range has drastically declined during the past century due to intensified fishing. Although there have been increased reports from Cardigan Bay (Wales) and occasional reports from across the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands is the only known location where they can be regularly encountered. We need to take action to ensure this population is protected.

In 2016 we teamed up with the Angel Shark Project (a collaboration between Zoological Society of London, University of Las Palmas Gran Canaria, and Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig), the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, and Submon. Together we developed the Angelshark Action Plan for the Canary Islands (Barker et al., 2016) which outlines goals and objectives to meet the vision that Angelsharks in the Canary Islands are abundant and protected in their unique stronghold.

This plan now forms the backbone of conservation action for this species around the Canary Islands.

► Angelshark Action Plan for the Canary Islands (pdf): ENGLISH | SPANISH

Published: 30th April, 2019

Updated: 12th August, 2019

Author: Hannah Tarrant

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EASTERN ATLANTIC & MEDITERRANEAN ANGEL SHARK CONSERVATION STRATEGY

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There are three species of angel shark in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean:

  • Angelshark (Squatina squatina)
  • Sawback Angelshark (S. aculeata)
  • Smoothback Angelshark (S. oculata)

All three are Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Most information is known about the ecology, distribution, and decline of the Angelshark, with much less known about Sawback and Smoothback Angelsharks.

The Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Angel Shark Conservation Strategy (Gordon et al., 2017) was developed as a framework for improved protection of these three Critically Endangered species. It serves as a catalyst for action and strives to bring regional experts together to deliver the Strategy goals. The main aims are to:

  • Improve the overall profile of angel sharks
  • Increase the number of sightings reported
  • Generate a better understanding of current distribution
  • Contribute to IUCN Red List reassessments, and
  • Identify new collaboration opportunities to increase conservation action. 

The vision of this Conservation Strategy is that: Angel sharks in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean are restored to robust populations and safeguarded throughout their range.

We’re now actively pursuing the goals of this Strategy, particularly through implementation in the Mediterranean.

► Eastern Atlantic & Mediterranean Angelshark Conservation Strategy (pdf): ENGLISH | FRENCH | SPANISH

► Extinction risk and conservation of critically endangered angel sharks in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea (review article in ICES Journal of Marine Science)

Published: 1st May, 2019

Updated: 17th December, 2019

Author: Hannah Tarrant

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MEDITERRANEAN ANGEL SHARKS: REGIONAL ACTION PLAN

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The Mediterranean is a risky place to be a shark. At least 50% of rays and 54% of sharks in this region face an elevated risk of extinction, including the three species of angel sharks. While measures do exist for the management of these species under the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), not all are implemented.

The Mediterranean Angel Sharks: Regional Action Plan is designed to focus efforts to help restore these enigmatic species to robust populations in the region. Development of the Action Plan was led by the Shark Trust and is a result of a major collaborative effort from organisations within the Angel Shark Conservation Network and across the Mediterranean. It acts as a call to action for stakeholders to work together to address the challenges faced by these Critically Endangered species.

The Vision of the Action Plan is that: 'Mediterranean angel sharks are restored to robust populations fulfilling their ecological roles in healthy ecosystems', with Goals focusing on the following:

  • GOAL 1 - Fisheries-based angel shark mortality is minimised in the Mediterranean
  • GOAL 2 - Angel shark habitat is identified and protected
  • UNDERLYING GOAL 3 - National legislation for angel sharks is established, implemented and enforced

To allow a tailored approach in priority regions of the Mediterranean, SubRegional Action Plans (SubRAPs) are being developed to facilitate further coordinated action by engaging regional stakeholders, including governments and industry. The areas covered by each SubRAP relate to recognised Geographic Subareas (GSAs) established by the GFCM.

► Download the Regional Action Plan (pdf): ENGLISH | FRENCH | SPANISH | ARABIC

► Download the SubRegional Action Plan (SubRAP) GSAs 22/23 (Aegean Sea & Crete) (pdf): ENGLISH | GREEK | TURKISH

► Do you have any information about angel sharks in the Mediterranean? If so, please get in touch.

Published: 2nd May, 2019

Updated: 2nd December, 2020

Author: Hannah Tarrant

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ANGEL SHARK PROJECT: WALES

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Listed as Critically Endangered, Angelshark (Squatina squatina) numbers have declined rapidly over the past ~100 years across their range. They are now a Prohibited Species to commercial vessels fishing in EU waters. In addition, they have domestic protection in England and Wales, giving them full protection from other activities, including recreational fishing'.

Angel Shark Project: Wales was launched by the Zoological Society of London and Natural Resources Wales in 2018. The Shark Trust is one of 15 partners which sit on the Steering Group. The aim of the project is to better understand and conserve Angelsharks in Welsh waters, through fisher-participation, heritage, and citizen-science.

► History of Angels interactive eBook (ENGLISH | WELSH)

► Best Practice Guidance for fishers (ENGLISH | WELSH)

► Wales Angelshark Action Plan (ENGLISH | WELSH - coming soon)

Published: 3rd May, 2019

Updated: 14th September, 2020

Author: Hannah Tarrant

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ANGEL SHARK CONSERVATION NETWORK (ASCN)

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The Angel Shark Conservation Network (ASCN) was established to enable individuals and organisations working to protect angel sharks to stay connected. The success of the Conservation Strategy and Regional Action Plans is down to those working together towards the common Visions.

Quarterly email bulletins provide updates on conservation activities from members. All interested parties are invited to join the ASCN and help to deliver the objectives laid out in each document.

► To join the ASCN, submit angel shark sightings and download extra resources, visit www.angelsharknetwork.com

Published: 3rd May, 2019

Author: Hannah Tarrant

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GLOBAL

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To date, we’ve focused on the three Critically Endangered angel sharks in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. With so many members of the angel shark family threatened, we’re working to build better profiles for all species and increase sightings records. We’ll soon be developing a global ID guide to feature all described angel sharks. 

Published: 3rd May, 2019

Author: Hannah Tarrant

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INTERNATIONAL ANGEL SHARK DAY

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On Friday 26 2020 June we celebrated the first ever International Angel Shark Day, and invited you to join us!

We took the opportunity to profile the 22 different species found around the world. Half of which are listed in a threat category.

Taking to social media, we shared facts, resources, and work from different researchers and conservationists around the world.

Visit our YouTube channel to find out more and watch replays of the following talks:

TIME
(BST)


ORGANISATION

PRESENTER

TOPIC

0900 Welcome to International Angel Shark Day!
0930 Angel Shark Project: Canary Islands Joanna Barker Angel Shark Project: Canary Islands – major achievements in the last year
1000 IUCN Shark Specialist Group Nick Dulvy Conservation planning
1030 Shark Trust Cat Gordon Mediterranean Angel Sharks: Regional Action Plan
1100 iSea Ioannis Giovos & Roxani Naasan Agah Monitoring angel sharks in the Aegean
1130 Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection & Research (ISPRA) Tomaso Fortibuoni, Simonepietro Canese & Francesca Ronchi Common, rare or extirpated in the Adriatic?
1200 Angel Shark Project: Wales Jake Davies Major outputs of Angel Shark Project: Wales
1230 Submon Alex Bartoli Getting legislation in place
1300 Shark Trust Ali Hood Message to governments
1330 Angel Shark Project: Canary Islands Maria Belén Caro Angel Shark Project: Canary Islands – where do we focus our work (presentation in Spanish)
1400 Sharks 4 Kids Jillian Morris 5 FinTastic Facts about the Pacific Angelshark
1430 Chondrolab Francisco Concha Squatina armata: Taxonomic issues on a real flatshark
1500 ProDelphinus/Universidad Cientifica del Sur Joanna Alfaro Shigueto Angel sharks in Peru
1530 Angel Shark Project: Canary Islands Eva Meyers Angelshark tagging and nursery area research in the Canary Islands
1600 Marine Biology in Libya Sara Al Mabruk Angelsharks in Libya – encouraging live release


Follow along using #AngelSharkDay and please share any experiences you’ve had with angel sharks, along with your photos and videos!


Discover Angel Sharks:

► Angel Sharks Poster (pdf) - showcasing all 22 species of the angel shark family

► Colouring in sheets: Adult (pdf) | Kids (pdf)

► Read our Angel Sharks Creature Feature Blog

Published: 23rd June, 2020

Updated: 2nd December, 2020

Author: Hannah Tarrant

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