Sharks of Kent

The Adonis Blue marine and coastal team have launched our latest flagship project: Sharks of Kent (SoK), a citizen science shark tagging project working with experienced recreational anglers, focusing on sharks, skates and rays (elasmobranch) monitoring in Kent. Data collected during this project could provide crucial evidence on coastal distributions and movement, supporting future management decisions of these species. Species of particular interest include, but are not limited to, smooth-hounds, thornback rays, tope and spurdog. The aim of the project is to help protect the species for future generations. We are working in collaboration with the Angling Trust and ZSL to ensure close collaboration with the angling community in the delivery of this project. SoK provide training, tags and equipment and then the anglers catch and tag the sharks!

Why do we need Sharks of Kent?

Little is currently known about the abundance, distribution and movement of sharks, skates and rays (elasmobranchs) around the Kent coastline. This project aims to address urgent research gaps and provide vital data through the power of citizen science at a crucial time when local species are threatened by overfishing, bycatch and warming seas. Most species currently lack sufficient protections and building a comprehensive knowledge base aims to improve local conservation and management of these species in the long term. Elasmobranchs are essential to healthy marine ecosystems! 

Last year we conducted a shark tagging feasibility study which:

• Identified historic records of 20 local species.
• Involved interviewing Kentish anglers to gauge local interest
• Revealed declines in elasmobranchs especially the Thornback Ray.

The project is inspired by the work of the Manx Wildlife Trust’s Small Shark Tagging Programme who have tagged 573 individuals over the last 10 years. This project has been seed funded by Sea Changers and Kent Downs.

Manx Wildlife Trust Trip

Earlier this year, project managers Max Renton and Ben Long went on a trip to the Isle of Man to meet Lara Howe from Manx Wildlife Trust. Lara introduced them to the Manx tagging project, taught them about the importance of tagging and, importantly, how to tag small sharks. Following the theory session, they headed out on a practical training boat trip alongside local anglers to put their theory into practice. While on the boat, the group caught and tagged a 40lb tope – a beautiful fish!

On their way back to port, they were greeted by a six-metre long basking shark which came right up to the boat! An incredible end to a great day. With Max and Ben now trained up in safe tagging and handling procedures, it was time to begin work on launching our local project.

Project Update

Over the last few months, the SoK team have been working hard to get the project up and running, rolling out the first phase in Ramsgate.

Tagging Theory Session

We ran our first  SoK theory session in Ramsgate, where we introduced the rationale and aims of this project to local recreational anglers. During the theory session, our Marine and Coastal Ecologists, Ben Long and Max Renton explained the Floy tagging process, in line with the SoK protocol. This was also an opportunity for the anglers to ask us any questions about the project, their role in it and how any provided data will be handled. After the session, we signposted the anglers to various Shark Trust resources, emphasising shark welfare as priority and handed out landing mats, tags and tagging guns.

Image credit: Sarah Wren

Tagging Practical Session

Towards the end of July, we hosted the very first Sharks of Kent practical tagging training in Ramsgate, hosted by Better Days; one of the local charter boats involved in tagging and recording data.

Project Manager Ben carried out a refresher of the theory training to the anglers before we headed offshore. Within 30 minutes of anchorage, we had already caught a Starry smooth-hound (Mustelus asterias) of taggable size. To minimise unnecessary stress to the fish, SoK have an established minimum tagging size for all species of interest. Once the sharks were safely landed in the mat we recorded the time, tag number, weight and length metrics before releasing them. During the 3-hour excursion, we caught 16 in total and tagged 10 Starry smooth-hounds, taking our total tagged fish to over 20!

During the practical boat trip, we caught 3 males and 7 females, 2 of which were pregnant. The current findings indicate a greater population of females, with few males being caught from shore and boat. However, most of the tagged males so far have been caught at sea.

Sharks of Kent in numbers so far

• 30+ Sharks tagged
• 1 species
• 4 Anglers tagging

Image credit: Sarah Wren

Next Steps & Future Aims

We hope to deploy as many tags as possible to build a wider picture of small shark movements around Kent. The next step is to run an additional theory and boat trip from Dover later this year. We are also keen to work with local angling clubs. Finally, we aim to broaden the project to the wider community by participating in initiatives such as the Shark Trust's nation-wide Great Egg Case Hunt, ensuring everyone can be involved!

Internship Involvement:

This year's Coastal Explorer interns (Daniel Hampton and Lydia Porritt) have been helping run the project under supervision of Assistant Ecologist Ben Long. Roles have included attending theory and practical tagging sessions, data handling, correspondence with anglers, social media development, grant exploration and organising the Dover training sessions.

Special thanks:

The team would like to thank all the anglers involved so far. Special mention to Ben Morris who has independently tagged half of the sharks, including our very first!  We also wanted to give big thanks to Daniel and Better Days Charter for hosting us for the practical session in Ramsgate on their vessel and the Salvation Army in Ramsgate for providing a space free of charge for our theory training.  And of course, a huge thank you to our funders Sea-Changers and Kent Downs National Landscape for who without, this project would not be possible! A huge thank you to Sarah Wren for all the photographs.

Get involved!

If an angler interested in getting involved. Please contact us at ben.long@adonisblue.org.uk or on 07500057920 (Also available on WhatsApp)