Angel Shark Breeding Project

This collaborative project between Deep Sea World, Fife and UnderWater World, Hasting involves the only captive mature Angel Sharks in the UK. The project started in 2002 when Deep Sea World transported one of our two male sharks to Hastings, who at the time held the female.

In 2004, after no reported successful mating the female was transported up to Deep Sea World where she was introduced to the second male within our large shark tank. Since then we have recorded both mating and breeding behaviour. Our suspicions that the female may be pregnant started in early April when the female visibly changed shape underneath. At that point it was investigated if it was in fact possible to scan a shark for pregnancy.

In July 2007 our vet brought along portable ultrasound equipment and the shark was tested. We believe this is the first such scanning of an Angel Shark. After some experimentation with the equipment a baby Angel Shark was captured on film moving within the female. This was incredibly exciting news for the team as it confirmed that she was indeed pregnant. Initial estimates put the age of the babies at around 4 months. The babies are born after almost 12 months and are around 20-30cm at birth. Angel Sharks have been known to give birth to between 9 – 20 young.

Whilst the Aquarium of the Bay, San Francisco has successfully bred a different species of Angel Shark, we believe that this is the first reported successful breeding of this species certainly in the UK, if not in Europe.

Unfortunately none of the pups survived the birth. However one was born alive, passing away shortly thereafter. This has given us hope that the breeding is possible in our tank.

Recently, (July 2008) the Male and Female angel sharks are again displaying mating behaviour which we hope will lead to successful breeding in future.

Critically Endangered Shark

The World Conservation Unions (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species first described this shark species as Vulnerable in 2000. In 2006 this was further upgraded to Critically Endangered. At the same time this species was also declared extinct in the North Sea.

These sharks are highly vulnerable to being caught as a by-catch through bottom trawls, set nets and bottom long lines. Angel Sharks historically have also been used for both fresh and dried salted for human consumption, and in the production of oil and fishmeal. Angel sharks grow very slowly and mature only at a large size. The result is that very few angel sharks reach maturity and breed resulting in an ever declining population.

The Angel shark (Squatina squatina) is a flat shark species that can be found around the UK and Mediterranean. The Angel shark is a temperate water bottom dwelling species found on the sea bed at depths of up to 150m. The shark prefers muddy or sandy bottoms where it lies buried with only its eyes protruding. They can grow to almost 2m in length.