Spurwatch UK

Grassroots citizen science project aiming to work with anglers to understand spurdog decline and recovery in the UK 🦈 Tag us in your spurdog catch posts 🦈

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

The Spurwatch UK website is now LIVE! 🔗🦈

You can now:
-Record your catch online via our record form
-Learn best handling practices via Our Guide (free to download)
-Read more about the project's aims, privacy policy, and goals

Go on! Head on over to https://t.co/NOIkGwrPUn!

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

@ParkMacker Thank you for sharing! 🦈😊

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

Art prints and bookmarks have arrived! Our crowdfunders will recieve their rewards very soon...🦈

Left overs will be put up for sale to raise funds for the project!

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

We've just hit over 1,000 fish in our database! 🦈🎣

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

@jahanlon2 Yes! I can't disclose specific sites due to our angler privacy policy, but the first few months of recording suggests that the West Scotland Coast is a hot-spot. 😁 Divers have recently encountered them in the Falls of Lora. Check out @alasdairodell and @Jameslynott!

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

Meet our first Angler Ambassador, Liam Gunn! 🦈

Liam is a champion of fish welfare, and has focused on developing his angling approach to minimise stress. We think this makes Liam a brilliant fit for the project. Check out his interview here:
https://t.co/sqyPzs9miV

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

@ukadventuregurl @ClareEmbling @BD_Stew @SharkTrustUK @mcsuk @PorcupineMNHS @thembauk

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEER REQUIRED!
Are you...
🦈 Interested in UK sharks?
💻Confident creating content across social media platforms?
📝Experienced writing accessible scientific content?
⏰Able to spare a few hours a week?
If this sounds like you, get in touch! Please share!

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

With the launch of the @SpurwatchUK website, we have also created a free to download handling guide. We want the community to set a gold standard for beginners by doing what's best for both anglers and fish. Find out more at https://t.co/NOIkGwrPUn #bestshark #spurdog

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

@alasdairodell @Jameslynott Thank you! 😊🦈

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

Happy Shark Awareness Day! 🥰

🧵Let's talk a bit about shark awareness... and why it's important to look beyond the iconic apex shark species!

Photo by @jameslynott featuring a spurdog and @alasdairodell🦈

1/n
#sharkawarenessday #sharks #shark #spurdog #dogfish #spinydogfish

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

Up until the 21st-century mainstream excitement for sharks was fairly limited, but public engagement with shark conservation is growing and there is hope. Off the back of that, let's make sure we give some love to the spurdog, a true underdog of public appreciation!🥰 7/7

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

And yet 40 years later the species faced localised extinctions in the NE Atlantic. Dogfish have long been underappreciated and underrecorded, but we need to make sure we understand sharks that don't boast huge sizes or frightening charisma, just as much as those that do. 6/n

[Georgie Bull @georgie_bull_]

Finally finished the @SpurwatchUK website. A couple of sections are still WIP but the core website, handling guide, and sightings submission pages are done! Thank you all so much for your continued support and patience. Now for some much needed sleep. 😴 More details soon! 🥳

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

The illustration for the Crowdfunder rewards is complete! I've also had some fantastic meetings with potential collaborators this week. I can't wait to move onto building the website. Thank you all for your continued support and remember to tag us in your catch posts! 🦈

[Spurwatch UK @SpurwatchUK]

Started working on the spurdog illustration for the Crowdfunder rewards last night. 🦈 It's been a very busy week, but we have received our first sightings from anglers and divers too! Thank you so much for engaging with the project. 👏🥰