Editor

I was dismayed and shocked to read of the ‘amazed’ angler who recently caught two rare sharks in Cardigan Bay.

Sharks globally are in real trouble where habitat loss, pollution and over-fishing are taking a huge toll.

The photograph of this beautiful animal reduced to a trophy was deeply upsetting, for the pain and fear as it was hooked, but for the impact upon the species.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature list Spurdog as being a Vulnerable species, at high risk of becoming endangered. The UK Biodiversity Framework recognises Spurdog as a priority species. They are endangered in Ireland, and are so depleted in parts of the Atlantic that they are critically endangered. Next stop, extinction.

Spurdog, like most Squalidae species, are long lived, slow growing and late maturing at 15 years old, and are further hampered by having a 22-month gestation, followed by fallow periods where they do not breed at all.

Migratory, they travel in isolated groups, overwintering in deep waters, returning to costal waters to pup. This may explain why two were caught closely together, rather than being in abundance here after being fished out over three decades ago.

As for making a comeback, I fear their chances have been sadly curtailed in this instance.

Julia Hughes, Gwarffordd, Llanfair Clydogau, Lampeter

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