Sharks, skates and rays are high-profile target species for UK anglers, yet over 40% of species in British waters are listed as threatened or near threatened on the IUCN Red List. Research is now highlighting sharks’ vulnerability to non-optimal handling during ‘catch and release’ by anglers, which can lead to post-release mortality. This is acknowledged as due to a lack of awareness.
In 2017 Sea-Changers gave a grant to the Shark Trust so they could print and distribute a high-quality poster highlighting ‘best practice’ when handling sharks. The poster aimed to raise awareness amongst anglers and contribute to a reduction in post-release mortality rates.