Shark in Scottish waters

Report shows distribution of Scotland’s threatened sharks, rays and skates.
Spurdog shark
Flapper skate
Credit -Scottish Natural Heritage
credit Orkney Skate Trust
New scientific research published explores how sharks, skates and rays are distributed around Scotland’s coasts, with the results to be used to help their conservation.
Using existing information about shark, skate and ray distribution around Scotland, a report published today models where the highest numbers of nine threatened species are predicted to occur.
The report also assesses the sensitivity of sharks, skates and rays (collectively called elasmobranchs) to various fishing methods and predicts bycatch hotspots - the areas where incidental capture of elasmobranchs is most likely - in prawn and scallop fisheries. The scientists involved have predicted where the highest numbers and variety of sharks, skates and rays occur and overlaid these with the areas where bycatch is predicted to be most likely, revealing areas where conservation measures could have the greatest impact for these species.
This new evidence will support the development of an elasmobranch action plan for Scotland and may influence future fishery management measures to protect this threatened group of fish. All species of sharks and rays are on the OSPAR list of Threatened and Declining Species.
NatureScot’s elasmobranch specialist, Dr Jane Dodd, said:
“Conserving and restoring sharks, skates and rays is difficult because we have limited information about their lives. This exciting research gives us much more insight into where the sharks, skates and rays are around Scotland’s coasts and the fishing activities they are sensitive to. We now plan to speak to fishers to learn more about their interactions with elasmobranchs.