The December update on the progress of the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme (SSTP) is now available in the Reading Room.
The SSTP relies heavily on the voluntary efforts of sea anglers and we would like to say a big thank you to all those who give so freely of their time and effort.
Since our last report in July this year, the SSTP has continued to develop apace – the number of sea anglers contributing to the SSTP has grown by around 40% (to 192) and thanks to their efforts plus the …

ID tags:
We currently use Dart tags produced by Floy with a small dart head.
Floy recommend that these tags are used on fish 8” – 24” (~20 – 61 cm) but we have decided to use this size for all our fish (for sharks, the minimum tagging size is currently 90cm – well in excess of the minimum size suggested) as shark skin is much tougher than ordinary fish and holds the tag in place more securely.
A lot of data on small fish is currently being lost due to …

A Background Document on the Spurdog  Squalus acanthias  has been developed by OSPAR following the inclusion of this species on the OSPAR List of threatened and/or declining species and habitats (OSPAR Agreement 2008-6).
The document provides a compilation of the reviews and assessments that have been prepared concerning this species since the agreement to include it in the OSPAR List in 2008.
The original evaluation used to justify the inclusion of S.acanthias in the OSPAR List is followed by an assessment of the most recent information on its status (distribution, …

The item is no longer available to watch.
This morning’s Animal 24:7 show featured an item on the SSTP’s work tagging skate at Crinan.
You can view it via the BBC website; the item is in two parts, the first part starts 7mins 30 secs into the programme and the second part starts 29mins 50 secs into it.
Some really terrific footage of Ian & Matty Burrett and the presenter catching some nice fish, including the recapture of a previously tagged one !
It also gives a good idea of what’s ahead for the …

We are pleased to announce we have been awarded the Dreamstore Active Conservation Award in recognition of the work we have done towards increasing public awareness of the urgent need for the conservation of inshore fish stocks in Scottish waters and for our contributions to public policy development.
Making the award, Dreamstore’s David Hoey said: “As an independent Charity, the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network has undertaken outstanding work in creating focus on conservation issues and the marine environment, especially those affecting sea anglers. Its education, environmental awareness, research and …

CEFAS is planning a porbeagle and spurdog tagging programme and is asking fishermen to help – and offering a reward for those who do.
Porbeagle sharks and spurdog populations are vulnerable to fisheries because they grow more slowly. reach maturity later and have fewer young than other fish species, stocks of both species are now classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Consequently, DEFRA has commissioned a study, running until 2012, to develop a better understanding of the issues and help policymakers determine management measures that …

The following press release was sent out yesterday and marks a significant milestone in the development of the SSTP – 1000 fish tagged and counting, and all in less than one year.
This has only been achieved through the terrific support of the 100′s of anglers – especially all those who have qualified for a bronze, silver or gold cap.
The Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network
Scottish Shark Tagging Programme
“ 1000 sharks tagged in Scottish waters by sea anglers in less than one year. ”
The Scottish Shark Tagging Programme (SSTP) which is …

Please feel free to download this Newsletter (just click on the image) which provides an overview of some of the things we have been up to over the past few months and covers in a bit more detail Sharkatag 2010 and our Scottish Shark Tagging Programme (SSTP).

Thanks to the incredible team behind Sharkatag and all those who took part in them, Sharkatag was a huge success; the increase in the numbers of novices and juniors was a special feature this year.
Once again the event showed that sea anglers can …

Now available here (pdf) – a round up of some of SSACN’s activities to date this year.
The newsletter focuses on two major projects – The Scottish Shark Tagging Programme (SSTP – www.tagsharks.com) and a Scottish Industry Science Partnership (SISP) activity, where SSACN are the industry lead, to develop a standard process for undertaking near-shore stock surveys.
There’s also news of a new tagging event around next Easter; this combined with the Tagthon and Sharkatag provides a terrific foundation for the SSTP
Sharkatag 2010 again showed the tremendous commitment sea anglers have to …

From Life History of the Piked Dogfish (Squalus acanthias L.) in Swedish Waters
Charlott Stenberg Fiskeriverkets Utredningskontor, Göteborg, Sweden
The piked, or spiny, dogfish, Squalus acanthias, is a common shark in the Atlantic, the Pacific Ocean and in the Black Sea.
Jones and Geen (1976) studied whether the piked dogfish in the Pacific Ocean should be classified as a species of its own, Squalus suckleyi, as it has been in other studies, or if it is in fact the same species in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean.
After electrophoretic analyses …