Angel shark captured on camera in Cardigan Bay--first time in 4 years

Written by Kate Brame 

For the first time since 2021, the Angel shark was captured on camera in Cardigan Bay, Wales. Angel sharks are one of the most rare species of sharks out there because of over fishing and slow reproduction rates. This reappearance of the elusive Angel shark is especially good for conservationists since they now have new evidence to ban bottom trawling across the marine protected areas.

An Angel shark swimming along the ocean floor. 

Over fishing and slow reproduction rates aren’t the only cause of their endangerment. Bottom trawling, which is the action of sweeping the ocean floor with weighted nets, is even more dangerous to bottom-dwelling marine creatures such as the Angel shark. They get swept up in the nets as by-catch and get their habitats destroyed as a result of it too.

The rest of their habitat loss is caused by coastal development and climate change. If something doesn’t happen to help them soon, they could go extinct. So, the appearance of this Angel shark off the coast of Wales is great evidence to help put a ban on a dangerous type of fishing.

There are around 139 protected marine areas across Welsh waters that prohibit bottom-trawling and other destructive fishing types, but none of them can completely stop those fishing practices.

The footage of the Angel shark was captured using Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems, or BRUVS for short. It’s been shared as part of The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales’s mission to show what really happens on the seabed. As well as to re-engage the community with marine life.

Dr. Sarah Perry, a marine conservation and research manager for the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales, says: “We were thrilled to record an Angel shark in Cardigan Bay, a rare and exciting encounter,” 

Additionally, the BRUVS used were deployed by a research team from the Dolphin Diet Detectives project. It’s an ongoing project to investigate the diets of dolphins and the marine diversity across Cardigan Bay.

“Our Dolphin Diet Detective project, funded by the Welsh government through the Nature Networks Fund, uses underwater cameras to reveal the incredible diversity of life on the seabed,” Dr. Perry added. 

“These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling.” It’s important to protect all marine life, especially the ones who are critically endangered because of careless people.