Hopes High For Shark-A-Tag Event

The OnlineFishing.tv crew is hoping to joing hundreds of anglers at Shark-A-Tag 2009.

Author: Press Release
Date: 04 February 2009

Hundreds of sea anglers are expected to gather data to protect Scottish sharks, and the OnlineFishing.tv cameras hope to be there to capture the atmosphere.

For SSACN's  Sharkatag2009 the target will tope - the largest of our inshore native sharks - and the event will be centred around Drummore, Sandhead and the Isle of Whithorn.

SSACN are expecting in excess of 100 craft and 300 anglers to take part over the three days. Full details of how to take part may be found at www.ssacn.org/sharkatag/

Ian Burrett, SSACN's Project Director: "Many anglers appreciate the stocks of several species of shark in Scottish waters have been seriously depleted, in fact, many are considered locally extinct. We would like to see the Scottish government and fisheries managers make more effort to protect the various species of shark."

But he points out "Anecdotal evidence - no matter how obvious the situation is - is unacceptable and the government require further evidence through field-based research before they are willing to take any action. To address this, we are undertaking a series of tagging events to help meet their evidential needs, in this case the focus is on tope."

OnlineFishing.tv, the new online fishing tv channel for anglers everywhere, is right behind the project and is hopeful that it will be there to film the event for its new Sea Watch UK series.

Head of Channel Gareth Purnell commented: "Sea Watch UK aims to cover what's affecting UK sea anglers now, and the Shark-A-Tag event fits the profile of what we're looking for perfectly."

The project coordinators, Willie Kennedy and Stuart Cresswell, were also keen to recognise the tremendous level of  support and financial commitment being given voluntarily by anglers.

Many organisations and groups from all over the UK have already shown interest, so Sharkatag2009 should also help reinforce the economic benefits of sea angling to the region, currently estimated to be worth around £30 - 40 million/year.

Sharkatag2009 - will build on the successful SSACN 'Tagathon' held around Loch Sunart in November 2008 when 85 boat, shore and kayak anglers braved the conditions to tag and release spurdog, another endangered Scottish shark.

www.ssacn.org/sharkatag/