The island of Ireland is home to around 60 species of elasmobranchs (that’s 44% of all European species), ranging from well-known species like the lesser-spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula), to mythical giants like the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) and the flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius)[1]. We also see many interesting migratory species moving through our waters in the summer months – for example you might remember the thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) spotted off the coast of Rathlin a few years ago [2]. Or the female 6-gill shark (Hexanchus griseus) who was among one of the first visitors to our underwater cameras – a species that can grow to over 6 meters and whose evolutionary history earns it the title of a “living fossil”!
Caption: Thresher shark photographed near Rathlin Island
Elasmobranchs play essential ecological roles in our marine environments, from bottom-dwelling scavengers on the sea floor to top-predators helping to keep smaller predators in check, and everything in between! They are also of high cultural importance, long revered by recreational anglers, researchers and amateur wildlife-enthusiasts alike. Unlike other fish species, elasmobranchs tend to be long lived and slow growing, producing few young each year. These life history traits, along with other factors, mean they are exceptionally vulnerable to depletion, and as a result they have suffered dramatic declines over the last century. Almost one third of our elasmobranchs are now threatened with extinction [1], reflecting global trends for these species. Overfishing (including bycatch) has been named the key driver of these declines, followed by habitat loss and human disturbances. Without appropriate interventions, these species will continue to decline to the point of extinction, eventually disappearing from our waters forever.
In response to the situation, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a public consultation into the creation of the first ever Elasmobranch Conservation Strategy for Northern Ireland [3]. The proposed strategy reflects the collective efforts of a broad range of stakeholders including NGOs, Governmental bodies, Universities and Industry partners, and aims to outline the necessary steps to protect 12 selected priority elasmobranch species (focusing on addressing key knowledge gaps), whilst delivering on international obligations to protect and preserve the marine environment.
This is an exciting and crucial moment for elasmobranch conservation in the region. The strategy supports several high priority, high-level and interlinked policies and strategies relating to nature recovery and biodiversity on a global, UK, and Northern Ireland level. As a co-design stakeholder for this process, the FjordStrong team enjoyed sharing our experiences, along with our thoughts on a realistic, effective and timely strategy. FjordStrong also contributed important survey data to ensure the strategy had a solid foundation and validated BRUVs as a suitable monitoring tool.
But now it’s your turn to get involved! Your insights are invaluable in shaping this strategy to effectively tackle the challenges faced by these remarkable species. The consultation for the proposed strategy is open until 16 December 2024, and you can submit your response on the DAERA website at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/ElasmobranchConservationStrategy.
- IUCN. 2024. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2024-1. https://www.iucnredlist.org.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57962485
- https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/ElasmobranchConservationStrategy
