Today, we're celebrating Shark Awareness Day and raising awareness for these amazing yet misunderstood animals.
The Deep is home to around 15 different species of sharks and rays, each with their own unique features which showcases their diversity and helps to identify them!
These vary significantly in size; from the bizarre looking, critically endangered Green sawfish (Pristis zijsron), with its tooth-studded rostrum, the streamlined, endangered Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhinchos), and the near threatened, white-spotted, brown-banded Bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum). These can be found in our warmer Endless Oceans and Lagoon of Light habitats, but we are also home to native species of sharks that enjoy the cooler temperatures of the UK coasts.
Our Northern Seas habitat is home to both Bullhuss (Scyliorhinus stellaris), the largest of the Catshark species, and Small-spotted catsharks (Scyliorhinus canicula), one of the most commonly sighted species on UK coastlines. The egg cases from these species, and those of other native sharks and rays, can often be found washed up on our beaches. You can help identify native species and population diversity by helping with The Shark Trust's Great Eggcase Hunt. This citizen science project has been gathering data for over 20 years, and continues to help broaden the knowledge of these animals and their reproduction.
The waters around the UK are home to a great many more shark species too, some of them resident to the UK and surrounding areas, and others visiting during their migratory travels. At up to 12m long, our largest visiting shark is the endangered Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), using its huge mouth to filter tiny zooplankton from the water. These huge sharks are thought to live for up to 50 years – a fraction of the lifespan of native Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus). These near threatened sharks are estimated to live to at least 250 years – but may reach over 500 years old! Much faster than both of these relative lumbering giants, the endangered Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is the fastest of all shark species and can hit speeds of up to 45 miles per hour whilst hunting for food! These are just a few of the 40 species know to be resident in, or visitors of our local seas, of which many are classified by the IUCN Red List as under threat.
Sadly, around 37% of all sharks and rays are threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List. The global abundance of oceanic sharks and rays has declined 71% over the last 50 years, primarily due to overfishing.
It's more important now than ever to take action to protect some of our oceans' most incredible species.
You can help support securing decisive action for our sharks by adding your signature to The Shark Trust's Big Shark Pledge, projecting a united voice for oceanic sharks.