Working with anglers to save England s sharks

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-08T12:50:23.839Z • Permanent link

My latest adventure took me to the small fishing boat in the middle of the English Channel in July, where I spent six days trying to catch a thresher shark. My colleague, ecologist Lucy Hawkes, and I were joined by two anglers who probably hold more knowledge about shark conservation than most experts. One of them, a local fisherman named John, has been fishing these waters for over 20 years and has seen a significant decline in shark populations. According to a report by the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the number of thresher sharks caught in UK waters has decreased by 75% since 2000.

Our expedition was part of a larger effort to study the decline of shark populations in the English Channel. The data collected during this trip will be used to inform policy decisions and conservation efforts. For example, the European Union's shark fin trade ban, which came into effect in 2017, has had a significant impact on the number of sharks caught in EU waters. However, more work needs to be done to protect these apex predators. Lucy's team has also been working with local fishermen to develop more sustainable fishing practices that can help reduce bycatch and protect shark habitats.

One of the key challenges facing shark conservation is the lack of data on shark populations. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that only about 10% of shark species have been studied, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of these animals. To address this issue, Lucy's team has been working with local fishermen to develop a shark monitoring program that uses a combination of acoustic sensors and camera traps to track shark populations. The data collected during this program will help inform conservation efforts and provide a more accurate picture of shark populations in the English Channel.

The decline of shark populations has significant implications for the fishing industry, which is a major contributor to the UK's economy. According to a report by the UK's Food and Drink Federation, the fishing industry supports over 60,000 jobs and generates £4.4 billion in annual revenue. However, the decline of shark populations can also have a negative impact on the industry as a whole. For example, the loss of sharks can lead to an increase in bycatch, which can result in economic losses for fishermen. Furthermore, the decline of shark populations can also have a negative impact on the ecosystem as a whole, leading to a decline in the overall health of the ocean.

The decline of shark populations also has significant implications for research communities, which rely on sharks as a source of data for studying ocean health. According to a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sharks play a critical role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. However, the decline of shark populations can also have a negative impact on research communities, which may struggle to find alternative sources of data. For example, the decline of sharks can also lead to an increase in the use of alternative data sources, such as satellite imagery, which can be less accurate than shark-based data.

The decline of shark populations is part of a larger trend of ocean degradation, which is having a significant impact on marine ecosystems around the world. According to a report by the United Nations, the world's oceans are facing a number of challenges, including overfishing, pollution, and climate change. The decline of shark populations is just one example of the many ways in which ocean degradation is affecting marine ecosystems. For example, the loss of coral reefs, which provide habitat for many shark species, can also have a negative impact on the overall health of the ocean.