University of Exeter scientists awarded almost £1m to protect England's most vulnerable sharks
University of Exeter researchers will tag 75 sharks and work with anglers across the South West to uncover the breeding grounds and migration routes of three of England's most threatened shark species.
University of Exeter scientists have been awarded £939,434 to lead a major new project investigating three of England's most vulnerable shark species, amid growing concern over how little is known about their numbers and movements around the English coast.
The three-year project, running from July 2026 to March 2029, will focus on blue shark, porbeagle and tope, species that live in English waters but remain poorly understood despite mounting conservation concern. Tope and porbeagle are currently classified as Vulnerable and Critically Endangered in Europe, respectively.
The funding comes from Natural England's Species Recovery Programme, part of the government's "Wild Again: Restoring England's Wildlife" initiative, which backs targeted action for more than 350 threatened species across the country. Announcing the funding, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: "Through the largest-ever investment in species recovery, we are backing projects across the country to protect threatened wildlife, restore habitats and secure the future of some of England's most iconic species."
The project is led by Exeter's Dr Matthew Witt and Dr Lucy Hawkes, working alongside the Angling Trust, the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and the Pat Smith Database, in a partnership that combines cutting-edge tracking technology with decades of knowledge held by recreational anglers.
Over the course of the project, researchers will deploy 75 electronic tags, including long-term satellite tags capable of tracking sharks for up to two years, to map migration routes, residency areas, and how sharks respond to being caught and released by anglers. The team will also use non-invasive ultrasound scanning to identify pregnant sharks and locate potential pupping and nursery grounds, avoiding the need for invasive blood sampling.
Alongside the tagging programme, researchers will run workshops and structured interviews with at least 45 anglers at major angling hubs including Looe, Falmouth and Brightlingsea, gathering historical catch records and local ecological knowledge to build what the team describes as the most complete picture yet of shark distribution in English waters. The findings will feed into updated England Red List assessments for all three species, as well as best-practice guidance for anglers aimed at improving survival rates after release.
Dr Witt, Associate Professor at the University of Exeter, said: "Coastal and open ocean sharks are among the most threatened groups of animals, yet they hold huge ecological, cultural and economic value. This project brings together anglers, the fishing sector and research scientists from across England to co-create real insight into the lives of sharks. By combining generations of angler knowledge with state-of-the-art animal tracking technology, we're building the evidence needed to secure a future for these remarkable species."
MBA Senior Research Fellow Dr Bryce Stewart said: "Important and vulnerable shark species live in English waters, yet significant knowledge gaps remain regarding their distribution and abundance. This project will provide the most comprehensive assessment of blue, porbeagle and tope sharks undertaken in England to date. Working together with the University of Exeter, recreational anglers and other partners, we will collect data to help us to identify the actions needed to secure their future."