Thousands have gathered along beaches in the UK picking souvenirs from the sand as they go, but these helping hands aren’t gathering shells, and they certainly aren’t picking up trash either. More than 75,000 shark egg cases will be gathered along beaches of the region, as a part of an ongoing effort to ensure the preservation of the species of shark that left them behind. Using the information gathered from the locations the shells are found, and the egg cases themselves, experts will be able to develop an in-depth analysis to determine vital information about the shark populations.
What information can be gained from a few thousand leftover shark egg cases?
The thousands of volunteers patrolling the beaches in search of shark egg cases haven’t joined the expedition just because the egg cases are really cool looking. Volunteers are assisting in scientific research to better understand, and improve shark conservation efforts in the world.
Organized by Shark Trust, an organization with a global initiative to save all of the oceans shark populations from extinction at the hands of humans, according to their website the aim is to monitor species of at risk sharks: “In recent decades, several species of shark, skate and ray around the British coast have dramatically declined in numbers. The empty eggcases (or mermaid’s purses) are an easily accessible source of information on the whereabouts of potential nursery grounds and will provide the Trust with a better understanding of species abundance and distribution.”
What kind of shark leaves behind a shark egg case?
Only two of the sixteen sharks known to be swimming off the coast of the UK had lain the sought after shark egg cases: the smallspotted catshark and the Nursehound. The shells are emptied after the young sharks emerge from the casing, and then either wash up on the shore, or are discarded by divers who have collected them while diving in nearby waters. Shark Trust claims, “The Great Eggcase Hunt aims to get as many people as possible hunting for egg cases that have either been washed ashore, or are found by divers and snorkelers underwater.“
The importance of this volunteer effort for the future of the shark species in question
Sharks are one of the more at-risk species in the ocean due to factors mainly including pollution and complications with overfishing of the ocean. Organizations like Shark Trust aim to fix the problem of the disastrous and rapid disappearance of the world’s sharks. Overall, around 75,000 shark egg cases will be collected providing valuable information regarding the wellbeing of these sharks, and to discover possible solutions to correct the damage that has already been caused to the marine predators.
