Angel shark (Squatina squatina) Case Study
Home > Biodiversity Nature & People > Conservation Philanthropy > Grants > MBZF Grant 13257029
Continent: Europe
Country: Spain
Grant Amount: $10,000
Awarded Date: November 07, 2013
Surveying work on the Angel shark's last stronghold, the Canary islands
The European angel shark is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List and is extinct from much of its historic range. The last known angel shark population stronghold is in the Canary Islands, and ZSL is working closely with local partners and dive clubs to gather information and conserve this species.
The Canary Islands is the last known refuge of the Critically Endangered angel shark, but little is known about the population. The Zoological Society of London(ZSL) and the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) are working together to raise awareness of the species in the Canary Islands and gather public sightings of angel sharks in coastal waters.
Public sightings of angel sharks, and other marine species, will be reported through our newly developed online POSEIDON tool. The data will provide vital information on ecological and behavioural characteristics of the population, including:
- Abundance and distribution
- Critical angel shark habitat
- Feeding areas
- Nursery grounds
Our initial focus is to increase awareness of the importance of the Canary Islands for angel shark conservation within the diving community. They will be the first to use the POSEIDON reporting tool and provide information on angel shark encounters during dives.
We will use the information gathered through the POSEIDON tool to advise the local government on the conservation and management of the angel shark population in Canary Island waters .
The text and images for this case study are uploaded by the grant recipient to raise awareness of the conservation work being done. Through its website the Fund provides the platform, but is not responsible for text or image content of case studies. We would like to sincerely thank the recipient for uploading a case study.
