A £100 reward is being offered by the Marine Labs for the return of their skate data tags along with details of where the fish was caught.

Only the white tags should be removed and the fish should be returned alive and well. A full sized poster with all the details may be downloaded from here.

October 2011 will see the start of a new tagging project undertaken by Marine Scotland that aims to look in detail at the movement of Common Skate (Dipturis cf. flossada, Dipturis cf. intermedia) around Crinan and the Sound of Jura on the west coast of Scotland.

This project is a single work package that makes up part of the much larger Scottish Marine Protected Area (MPA) project: the MPA project will provide advice to Scottish Ministers on the selection of MPAs in Scottish territorial waters.

The current Common Skate tagging programme is well established thanks to the work of a wide range of volunteers and recreational anglers. Skate tagging projects in Scotland are carried out by volunteers as part of the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme (SSTP) operated by the Scottish Sea Anglers Conservation Network (SSACN).

Data collected by recreational sea anglers and the SSTP have proved extremely valuable and has already helped provide a valuable insight into the biology of Common Skate by assessing movements, distribution and growth between points of capture and has provided a strong foundation on which future projects can build. If you are interested in tagging Scottish skate, rays or sharks or becoming more involved in the SSTP or SSACN please send an email to contact@ssacn.org.

Related posts:

1. Sign up for Tagathon2009
2. SSACN receive funding for Shark Officer
3. Update – Common Skate Acoustic Tagging Project in the Sound of Jura.

It is hoped that this page can be used for connecting anglers together on one site to display their photos, discuss any issues they would like to about the programme or related topics and to keep up to date with the tagging programme.

A summary update of the site can be found below.

Hope to see you on facebook!

Cheers

The SSTP team.

Related posts:

1. MPA and Conservation Strategy Responses required
2. 2010 YTD NEWSLETTER AND SHARKATAG REVIEW
3. Press release–Skate Tagathon

If you entering data for more than one fish in a session, fill in this page in full for the first fish and then just your name subsequent fish.

Fill in the second page for each fish.

NB :: Remember to ‘press’ SEND at the end of the second page.

Related posts:

1. Report highlights Spurdog stock issues
2. World Conference on Marine Biodiversity
3. EU protection for tope

It ran from the 18th to the 20th of June and as usual the main target was tope with rays, huss and hounds also expected to feature.

Results :: These will be posted as soon as all returns are in and have been validated.

Meanwhile photos taken at the event may be found at http://www.tagsharks.com/tagging-programmes/sharkatag-2010-photo-call.

As usual for Sharkatag, the main target will be tope and the location will be around the Mull of Galloway.

Please remember – Sharkatag is not a competition – its main aims are to tag as many fish as possible from the shore and boat; to highlight the urgent need for shark, ray and skate conservation in Scottish waters, and to raise the public awareness of sea angling.

You can download an A5 copy of our poster from here to pass on to your friends, club, local tackle shop or anyone else who may be interested.

A code of best practice for handling tope may be found here.

Click on the following for accommodation lists for  The Mull of Galloway and the Isle of Whitorn areas.

Why are SSACN tagging sharks ?

Many sea anglers have recognised that over the years the stocks of the various Scottish shark species have been in severe decline.

SSACN would like to see the Scottish government and fisheries managers make more effort to protect the various species of shark, but anecdotal evidence – no matter how obvious the situation is – is unacceptable to the government who have always claimed lack of scientific data.

Though the government requires further evidence through field-based research before they are willing to take any action they do not have a programme in place in gather it, therefore, SSACN has devised its own series and Sharkatag is just one of the initiatives we are undertaking to try and meet their evidential needs.

Related posts:

1. Sharkatag info pack
2. Sharkatag 2011
3. Tag Recording Card ready for download

Tagathon2009 is NOT a fishing competition – the tagging event is part of our ongoing campaign to allow the stocks of spurdog and common skate in Lochs Sunart and Etive and surrounding waters to regenerate by protecting them from excessive and unsustainable commercial exploitation.

The event will be run from two venues namely Loch Sunart and Loch Etive.

From a logistics point of view, we need to know which venue you are fishing and which pick up points and times you will be using,  to collect the tags and information packs, so please fill in the form below or you may end up with no tags/SSTP record cards etc

Note :: We will be replacing the UK and Glasgow Museum tags with SSTP tags but the original canulas will administer the new tags.

The pick up times and location are as follows :

Loch Sunart tags and information pack pick up points (meet with Denis Kelly)

Friday…  13^th Nov – 7.00-8.00 pm  Salen Hotel Acharacle

Saturday  14^th Nov – 8.30-9.00 am  Resipole Caravan Park

Saturday. 14^th Nov – 7.00-8.00 pm  Salen Hotel Acharacle

Sunday    15^th Nov – .8.30-9.00 am  Resipole Caravan Park

Launch sites :: Resipole Caravan Park (FOC for Tagathon) and Salen Jetty

Loch Etive tags and information pick up points (meet with Mark Hind)

Friday… 13^th Nov –  7.00-8.00 pm  Lochnell Arms Hotel, North Connel, By Oban

Saturday 14^th Nov –  8.30-9.00 am  Taynuilt

Saturday.14^th Nov -  7.00-8.00 pm  Lochnell Arms Hotel, North Connel, By Oban

Sunday   15^th Nov – .8.30-9.00 am  Taynuilt

Launch sites :: Taynuilt

Some useful links ::

Resipole Caravan Park – http://www.resipole.co.uk

Salen Hotel – http://www.salenhotel.co.uk/dining.html

Lochnell Arms Hotel – http://www.lochnellarms.co.uk

Anglers Corner – http://www.anglerscorneroban.co.uk

We are very grateful for your support.

Please remember, Tagathon is not a competition, please take the time to fill out the tagging returns as completely as possible, as by taking part you are helping provide the necessary evidence to help persuade the Scottish government to protect sharks in Scottish waters.

All updates will be posted to the email address you have given us; should you need to change any of your details, please email tagsharks@ssacn.org.

Related posts:

1. Clyde IFG consultation
2. Easter at Loch Sunart
3. Spurdog Tagathon 2011 Welcome pack

Today the not-for-profit company launches its strategy which intends to prevent the deaths of millions of vulnerable and endangered species of shark. The initiative aims to win over the fishing community by working with game fishing societies, tackle manufacturers, competition sponsors and marinas to form community conscious policy.

In the last five years over a half million sharks on average were harvested annually by the recreational and sport-fishing community in the United States alone. Many of these were breeding age animals and belong to vulnerable or endangered species. Research has shown that removal of adult sharks from the population is occurring at such an extreme rate that many species stand no chance of survival, severely damaging the delicate ecological balance of the oceans ecosystem.

“There’s a lot of talk about the atrocity of shark fining and fishing worldwide” says the SFMI’s Board Director, Marine Biologist Luke Tipple “but not a lot of measurable action towards reversing the damage. The time has come to stop simply ‘raising awareness’ and start implementing sensible management techniques to protect vulnerable species of sharks from inevitable destruction.”

The Shark-Free Marina Initiative works by prohibiting the landing of any caught shark at a participating marina. By promoting catch-and-release fishing the sport of shark fishing can actively participate in ongoing research studies and collect valuable data. The initiative is based on the Atlantic billfish model which banned the mortal take of billfish in response to population crashes in the 80’s.

“Although the number of sharks killed by recreational fishermen each year is dwarfed by commercial catches, the current crisis facing shark stocks requires action wherever possible.” says marine scientist and SFMI Advisor Edd Brooks “We are not asking fishermen to stop fishing, only asking them to start releasing their catch.”

Collaborating with the Cape Eleuthera Institute in the Bahamas and the Fisheries Conservation Foundation in the USA the SFMI has had an early impact with interest from marinas and non-profits nation-wide. Currently Shark-Free Marinas is able to subsidize the cost of signs and literature but hope that future investment will help make a nationwide impact.

“Shark-Free Marinas is a necessary response to the culture of mature shark harvest” says Tipple “Our effect will be immediate, measurable and, together with saving millions of sharks, will establish a new global standard for responsible ocean management.”

Visit the Shark-Free Marina website at www.sharkfreemarinas.com or contact the Director at staff@sharkfreemarinas.com

Related posts:

1. Sharkatag on Fishing TV –watch for free
2. Boca Raton Considers Ban On Shark Fishing
3. EU to stop deep sea shark fishing

The event runs from the 12th to the 14th of June – it is not a competition – its main aims are to tag as many fish as possible from the shore and boat; to highlight the urgent need for shark, ray and skate conservation in Scottish waters, and to raise the public awareness of sea angling.

Joining in is easy, a simple form to fill in and only £10 per person to pay to help cover the costs of tags, tagging kits and suchlike – without either your registration will not be valid – More details and Registration here.

Please download a copy of our poster from here to pass on to your friends, club, local tackle shop or anyone else who may be interested.

A code of best practice for handling tope may be found here.

Click on the following for accommodation lists for  The Mull of Galloway and the Isle of Whithorn areas.

A map showing launch sites in the area may be found here.

A great tackle shop in the area is The Sports Shop, 88-90 George St. Stranraer, DG9 7JS :: Tel – 01776 702 705 ask for Eric McClean.

Related posts:

1. Sharkatag 2009
2. Sharkatag2010
3. Commonplace but unusual

Europe’s threatened sharks were thrown a lifeline today as the European Council announced their conclusions and priority actions regarding the Community Plan of Action for Sharks.

The Community Plan of Action for Sharks (CPOA) comes nearly ten years after the governments of the United Nations pledged to produce shark conservation plans for their waters. Today’s announcement is the culmination of years of campaigning by the Shark Trust and other members of the Shark Alliance. The Council Conclusions prioritise the need for a prompt review of the shark finning legislation and identify an urgent need to improve data collection to aid species management and conservation.

At the launch of the CPOA in February the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Joe Borg positively endorsed the plan, saying: “Sharks are very vulnerable to overexploitation and the consequences of depleting their numbers may have very serious consequences not only for sharks but also for marine ecosystems and for fishermen themselves.”

In a statement today to the Shark Trust the UK Fisheries Minister, Mr Huw Irranca-Davies reinforced his position saying: “I strongly support the EU shark plan of action.  We must do all we can to protect and sustainably manage these vulnerable species.   I am delighted that the Council conclusions on the plan have now been adopted and am personally pleased to see a commitment in the conclusions to reviewing the Council Regulation on shark finning.”

Irranca-Davies went on say: “Finning is a wasteful practice and it is essential that this Regulation is strengthened and I will be considering if the UK should cease to issue special fishing permits.   The UK will also be working to ensure that the plan produces robust, workable and effective measures.”

The Shark Trust welcomed the announcement of the Council Conclusions with Director of Conservation, Ali Hood commenting: “A coherent approach to shark conservation and management is long overdue and the Community Plan of Action for Sharks represents a framework for positive action, what we urgently need now is demonstrations of commitment by Member States to deliver on the promises of the Council Conclusions. The Shark Trust was pleased by the degree of support demonstrated by the UK Government who sought every opportunity to ensure the Council Conclusions could deliver on the plans potential.”

The Trust is encouraged that the Council have prioritised the need for a revision of the shark finning ban, and its associated derogations, which currently allow the removal of shark fins at sea through the allocation of Special Fishing Permits. The Shark Trust will continue to advocate for the UK Government to cease the provision of these permits and their resolve is strengthened by the Minister’s acknowledgement of this issue. Five countries issue Special Fishing Permits: Spain, Portugal, Germany, Lithuania and the UK – UK permit holders currently land over 80 tonnes of shark fins per year.

Hood further stressed: “Although the Council’s proposal to improve the knowledge on sharks and their role in the ecosystem is welcomed, the Trust is concerned that some Member States may use the need for increased data collection as an excuse to maintain the status quo. With over 30% of Europe’s sharks already threatened with extinction in the wild one certainty is that action is required as a matter of urgency.”

Priority Action – Shark finning:

Europe’s role in the shark fin trade is often overlooked, but with about 30% of the fins entering the Hong Kong fin trade originating from European vessels a priority field of action within the CPOA is the proposal to strengthen the EU shark finning regulation.

The Shark Trust was instrumental in the adoption of Europe’s first shark finning regulation in 2003. Although the current regulation forbids the removal of shark fins at sea, Member States can opt to provide registered vessels with ‘Special Fishing Permits’ which allow the removal of fins at sea providing fins and carcasses are landed in compliance with a complicated 5% fin:carcass ratio.

Five member states provide special fishing permits: the UK is one of them landing in excess of 80 tonnes of shark fin a year.

The Shark Plan proposes to address this loophole seeking a strengthening of the ratio and reviewing the derogation which currently permit the allocation of Special Fishing Permits. However, the Shark Trust feels strongly that the most reliable means to prohibit finning is to adhere to the original intent of the regulation and ensure all sharks are landed with their fins attached. In fact the UK Government has encouraged the European Commission to explore the potential of fins attached as a viable option. In this vein the Trust strongly advocates that the UK cease the provision of special fishing permits and is in discussion with the UK Fisheries Minister regarding this. In April a cross party group of MPs lead by Martin Horwood the Shadow Environment Minister for the Liberal Democrats sponsored an Early Day Motion in support of the Shark Trust’s position.

Related posts:

1. End Shark finning
2. Lochhead supports amendment to ban finning
3. Scottish Sharks

We’d just like to thank all those who have given their support to the project, those anglers who actually took part and to those in the media who turned up, listened to the issues and who are using their resources to communicate them.

This weekend alone, anglers will have spent over £20,000 of their own money to help us begin the process of gathering the data the government say they need before they are willing to put in place any form of protection for the remaining spurdog stocks.

Ironically, there is no onus on those who commercially exploit spurdog to prove that they are NOT depleting stocks.

What’s more important here – the survival and rebuilding of a fishery resource which in the longer term could increase both commercial and recreational opportunities, OR, short term actions to protect commercial and political interests ?

Related posts:

1. Sweden fully protects spurdog
2. Herald spurdog tagging
3. Sign up for Tagathon2009

Just a quick test

hello from SSACN

Related posts:

1. Easter at Loch Sunart
2. Spurdog Fact File
3. SSACN AGM and subscriptions