What is Project SIARC?
The marine environment in Wales is teeming with life; beneath the often-murky waters are little understood species of shark, skate and ray (elasmobranchs) of conservation importance.
Project SIARC is catalysing links between fishers, researchers, communities and government to collaborate and safeguard elasmobranchs and support a green recovery in Wales.
Our objectives are:
Our focal species are:
Angelshark
- Other names in Wales: monkfish, fiddle fish, maelgi (welsh)
- Biology: Grows to 240 cm; gives birth to 7-25 pups
- Status: Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List; part of one of the most threatened elasmobranch families
- Interesting fact: Angelsharks were once used by Romans to cover shields and sword handles as their skin is extremely tough
Tope
- Other names in Wales: school shark, snapper shark, Ci glas (welsh)
- Biology: Grows to 195 cm; gives birth to 6 – 52 pups
- Status: Critically Endangered on IUCN Red List
- Interesting fact: Tope tend to move round in schools, which can be segregated by size and sex
Nursehound
- Other names in Wales: Huss, Bull Huss, Greater Spotted Dogfish, Morgi brych (welsh)
- Biology: Grows to 162cm total length; eggcases commonly laid in spring/summer
- Status: Vulnerable on IUCN Red List
- Interesting fact: Nursehound eggcases are the most frequently found eggcases around Wales - sometimes found in their hundreds!
Who’s involved?
Project SIARC uses a multidisciplinary approach, integrating biological, physical, social and engineering science to engage a diverse network of relevant actors, address critical knowledge gaps, contribute to nature recovery and inform site management across the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) network.
Project SIARC is led by Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW), who together make up the Project SIARC Board, which retains oversight across all activities and makes strategic decisions regarding the project and future developments. Project SIARC is delivered in partnership with Delivery Partners, Affiliates and Collaborators, outlined below.
Project SIARC Delivery Partners
Responsible for delivery of specific Project SIARC activities and inputs into strategy and decision making
Bangor University are conducting hydrodynamic modelling to help design and interpret results from environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys.
North Wales Wildlife Trust (NWWT) are leading some of the Project SIARC citizen science initiatives, including organising archival research groups and Shark Trust’s Great Eggcase Hunt across Wales.
Shark Trust are delivering elasmobranch and eggcase ID guides for Wales, to support fisher engagement and citizen science research. They are also supporting NWWT in delivering Great Eggcase Hunts across Wales
Swansea University are leading school engagement for Project SIARC, including an exciting expansion of 3D printing in schools to bring our focal species to classrooms around Wales.
Project SIARC Affiliates
Supports delivery of a specific Project SIARC activity/activities
Project SIARC Collaborators
Collaborates on a specific Project SIARC activity/activities
Angel Shark Project: Wales will continue to run in parallel with Project SIARC and will co-deliver the Angelshark specific elements of the project.
Current Funders
This project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme. It is being delivered by the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government.
Previous Funders
