PRESS RELEASE
BRITISH PUBLIC UNCOVER 75,000 SHARK EGGCASES ON
BRITISH BEACHES
The Shark Trust urges more people to join the hunt for mermaid’s
purses and help discover more about British sharks, skates and rays
UK. 16 July 2015. The Shark Trust, the leading shark conservation charity, has collected
over 75,000 entries into its citizen science project, The Great Eggcase Hunt, one of the UK’s
most popular and longstanding public marine recording projects.
As we head into the summer holiday season, the Shark Trust is calling on the British public
to step up research and conservation efforts by identifying and recording eggcases (also
known as a mermaid’s purse) on its new smartphone app, currently available on iPhones,
with an Android version coming soon.
Established in 2003, the Great Eggcase Hunt has pulled in considerable help from the British
public to hunt for spent shark, skate and ray eggcases. Eggcases are tough, leathery
pouches that protect the embryo while developing. Once hatched, the empty eggcases can
often be washed on to the beach, where they are commonly found amongst the seaweed on
the shore all year round. Eggcases of different species vary in shape, size and features,
helping to identify which shark, skate or ray it belonged to.
The Great Eggcase Hunt wouldn't be possible without citizen scientists - volunteers of all
ages have so far helped record 13 species of shark, skate and ray eggcases found around
the British Coast, as well as uncovering vital information on breeding and nursery habits.
Records have also been collected from as far afield as South Africa, Australia and the USA,
so remember to keep searching for eggcases if you are on holiday abroad!
Sharks are essential to our oceans but their numbers are in decline across the globe,
including in UK waters. There are over 30 species of shark found around the British coast,
with many more species found in deeper waters, over 50% of these are Threatened or Near
Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Ensuring adequate protection is hard, because there is
still so much to be discovered about breeding areas and population sizes. By reporting
eggcase findings, the public is assisting the Shark Trust to actively protect sharks, as well as
helping to raise awareness about the presence and diversity of species in our waters
As shark conservation specialists, the Shark Trust is working to identify where in our seas
there are shark ‘nurseries’ to help with the management of the shark, skate and ray
populations in our waters, and to help with designating Marine Conservation Zones to
provide spatial protection for some species where it is found to be necessary.
Shark Trust, Conservation Officer, Cat Gordon said: “The Great Eggcase Hunt has received
an overwhelming response from the public and thanks to our supporters we now have an
extensive and ever expanding database of eggcase records, which continue to provide us
with crucial information on the distribution of shark, skate and ray species.”
Managing Director, Paul Cox adds “You don’t need to be a scientist to be a citizen scientist it's easy to record findings, pictures and locations on the project website or on the new
smartphone app. It is the combined efforts of scientists, conservationists and the public that
is making the difference, encouraging positive change one step at a time."
To find out more about the Great Eggcase Hunt visit: www.eggcase.org
ENDS
Media Enquiries:
Sophie Douglas, Formedia PR, sophie@formedia.co.uk 01752 764222
Dean Smith, Formedia PR, dean.smith@formedia.co.uk, 01752 764221