CITES, or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, is an agreement that helps protect endangered species by regulating their trade. With 183 countries involved, it monitors over 35,000 species, including 46 types of sharks and rays. CITES has three appendices to classify species based on their extinction risk and control trade. Effective conservation…
The Shark Sightings Database, also known as Shark Log, started in 2008 and allows people to report shark sightings online. This project aims to collect data that helps researchers study and conserve sharks, skates, and rays globally. Information gathered includes details about the species and their populations, which assists in management efforts. When users submit…
The Mobile App for the Great Eggcase Hunt, created by the Shark Trust, allows users to engage in shark conservation. Users must agree to the terms and conditions before using the app, which involve data protection measures regarding personal information. The app is free for personal use, but users must comply with certain conditions including…
The Shark Trust’s privacy policy explains how it collects and uses personal data from users of the Great Eggcase Hunt App. Information such as your name, email, and location may be collected to log your eggcase finds. This data helps users view their discoveries in a logbook format. The Shark Trust only shares your information…
The Small-eyed Ray, or Raja microocellata, is commonly found in the Northeast Atlantic, especially around the British Isles. It prefers regions like the Bristol and English Channels and is rare in the North Sea. The species is known for its distinctive egg cases, which are typically around 15 cm long with unique upper and lower…
The Thornback Ray, also known as Raja clavata, is a species found throughout the Eastern Atlantic, from Iceland to South Africa. Its eggcases can be identified by their length and unique shape. They typically range from 10 to 15 cm in size. Many divers and beachgoers in the UK participate in the Great Eggcase Hunt,…
The Blackmouth Catshark, known scientifically as Galeus melastomus, is a deep-water species found in the Eastern Atlantic, from Norway to Senegal, including the Mediterranean. This shark is recognizable by its eggcases, which measure about 5 cm and have small upper horns. Unlike other species that may wash ashore, the eggcases of the Blackmouth Catshark are…
The Nursehound Catshark, also known as Scyliorhinus stellaris, is found in shallow waters along rocky shores in the Northeast Atlantic, from southern Scandinavia to Senegal and in the Mediterranean. Its maximum eggcase length is around 10 cm, significantly larger than the Smallspotted Catshark’s eggcase. Divers often spot these catsharks while exploring. Records of its eggcases…
Basking Sharks were once heavily fished in the Northeast Atlantic for their liver oil, meat, and fins, leading to a sharp decline in their numbers. They are now one of the most protected species in UK and EU waters due to their endangered status on the IUCN Red List. Laws make it illegal to harm…
The smallspotted catshark, also known as Scyliorhinus canicula, is commonly found in the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. This species is one of the most abundant sharks in British waters and is often seen by divers and snorkellers because it prefers coastal areas. Their eggcases wash ashore frequently, with many being discovered along the…