Discovery on Scottish Shore Supports Spanish Shark Research
A discovery made on a remote Scottish shore is aiding marine scientists in southern Europe to enhance their understanding of an endangered deep-water shark species.
Volunteers participating in a beach clean on the Rhins of Galloway—the south-west tip of Scotland—found an unusual grey object shaped like a small torpedo with an antenna at one end.
It was later identified as a wildlife tracking tag that had been attached to a leafscale gulper shark approximately 800 miles (1,300 km) to the south, off the coast of Spain, several years prior.
The equipment has now been returned to researchers who hope to access the data collected to gain deeper insight into the species.
The find was made by members of a local beach cleaning group, ONUS South West Scotland, who used contact details inscribed on the device to trace its origin.
It was subsequently revealed that the tag had been manufactured by the US company Wildlife Computers and was owned by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO).
Local Conservation Officer Comments on the Find
Nic Coombey, a project officer for the local conservation charity Solway Firth Partnership, was part of the litter-picking team.
"It always amazes me how much weird and wonderful debris washes up on our shores.
Although every item has a story to tell, it's rare to find something that we can trace the journey it has taken."
About the Leafscale Gulper Shark and Research Efforts
The leafscale gulper shark is described as a little-known species inhabiting the cold, deep ocean waters in near darkness.
Marine scientists from the IEO have been employing satellite tracking technology to improve their understanding of the shark’s biology and ecology.
The shark central to this study was tagged in Spanish waters in October 2021.
It was migrating north towards the Irish Sea when the tag detached prematurely after 130 days.
Details of the Tracking Equipment
The equipment, which has been returned to the Spanish research team, was a MiniPAT pop-up archival transmitting tag, also known as a PSAT.
This device is used to monitor the movements and behavior of fish and other marine animals.
The tag collects data on water depth, temperature, and light levels and can be programmed to release itself on a preset date.
Once it surfaces, a summary of the data is transmitted back to base via satellite.
If the tag is recovered, the full archive stored in its memory can be downloaded.
Research Team’s Perspective on the Data
Christina Rodriguez Cabello, a member of the research team, stated that the information from the Galloway beach find could prove valuable to their studies.
"Based on the data collected and transmitted, we can estimate the shark's route," she said.
From this, researchers can determine how far the shark traveled and the routes it took, which can improve management and conservation efforts.
