Take Part in the Underwater Great Eggcase Hunt with the Shark Trust
The Shark Trust Great Eggcase Hunt is one of the most popular marine citizen science projects, that has seen over 600,000 eggcases recorded over the past two decades. But, fewer than 1% of these were sightings in-situ. Just 0.7% were from underwater submissions where the shark or skate was still developing in its capsule.
To encourage more divers to record their finds the Shark Trust have created a new Underwater Great Eggcase Hunt Guide
“Eggcases seen developing underwater are a crucial piece of the puzzle. They help us link the areas where empty eggcases regularly wash ashore with the habitats that are important for this stage of the life cycle. We’re asking divers and snorkellers to keep an eye out for eggcases seen attached to seaweed or seabed habitats.” She adds that “Recording these observations will help provide a valuable insight into the critical habitat used for the egg-laying process.” Senior Conservation Officer Cat Gordon
A Day Out on the Underwater Great Eggcase Hunt
On a recent dive, Cat and Caroline, who both work at the Shark Trust, headed off on a shore dive in Plymouth to follow the guide and to give it a go themselves. We joined a lovely group of divers and snorkelers from Sound Diving at Crownhill Bay. An area well known as a good place to find Mermaid’s Purses from several shark and skates species.
This is a lovely time of year to dive on the south coast. The seaweed is healthy and vibrant – and so colourful in the sunshine. And the water is now starting to warm up. We didn’t have to wait long to find our first eggcase. A Nursehound eggcase attached to, and well camouflaged against, a clump of seaweed.
Although the site is well known to have several other species lay eggs in this bay, we didn’t manage to find any more underwater. Although we did find an empty Blonde Skate eggcase at the water’s edge just as we were heading in. At the end of the dive, we joined up with the other divers and snorkellers. Other eggcases had been found both washed up on the beach (empty after hatching) and underwater. So, we sat around in the sunshine to log them all using the Shark Trust app.
Make every dive count this summer, and let the Shark Trust know what species of sharks, skates or rays you see, along with any eggcases found – whether above or below the water! By doing so, you help our conservation efforts for these important species.
