Porbeagle shark not added to Wildlife & Countryside Act

The UK Government has confirmed that porbeagle shark will not be added to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) following the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s 7th Quinquennial Review (QQR7), which began in 2021, and the Angling Trust responded to in partnership with Shark Hub UK and the Pat Smith Database.

This means there will be no new legal restrictions on recreational angling for porbeagle sharks in UK waters, providing clarity for anglers and charter businesses who target the species responsibly on a catch-and-release basis.

If listed, Schedule 5 protection would have made it illegal to intentionally kill, injure, take, possess or trade these species, with clear implications for recreational sea angling.

The Angling Trust responded to the consultation in collaboration with Shark Hub UK and the Pat Smith Database, drawing on the best available evidence to demonstrate that responsible recreational catch-and-release angling can coexist with conservation objectives.

Science shows high survival when best practice is followed

Recent research supports the continued emphasis on best-practice angling rather than additional legal restrictions.

A University of Exeter-led study, involving the Angling Trust via Shark Hub UK, tracked the post-release survival of almost 70 blue, porbeagle and tope sharks caught by recreational anglers across the British Isles.

The study found that:

• Fewer than 5% of sharks died after release
• Survival rates were high when current best-practice handling guidelines were followed

Of the three sharks that died – one from each species – none showed external injuries, and all appeared energetic when released. Two of them, including a porbeagle, had been deep hooked and released with hooks left in place, highlighting the importance of minimising deep hooking and using appropriate gear and techniques.

Tag data also showed that sharks typically swam quickly to deeper water after release, likely to recover and re-oxygenate their gills. Most individuals appeared to recover within 24 hours, although porbeagle sharks sometimes took longer – reinforcing the need for particularly careful handling of this species.

The research, published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science, is the first detailed assessment of post-release shark survival in European recreational fisheries and highlights the importance of good angling practice, particularly for large sharks like porbeagle.

Best practice remains essential

Modern shark angling in the UK is almost exclusively catch-and-release. This decision reinforces the responsibility for anglers to:

• Use appropriate tackle and techniques
• Minimise fight times and the risk of deep hooking
• Avoid removing large sharks from the water
• Handle and release sharks carefully to maximise survival

Recreational anglers and charter skippers are vital partners in advancing our understanding of these species. This outcome reinforces our long-standing position that collaboration with the angling community through best-practice codes of conduct is far more effective than additional legislation. Such an approach not only supports research and conservation but also helps sustain coastal livelihoods and fosters meaningful connections between people and the sea.

The Angling Trust will continue to work via Shark Hub UK with partners to promote responsible shark angling and support research that benefits both conservation and sustainable sea angling.

Further information

• Shark Angling Club of Great Britain – Best practice guidelines: http://www.sharkanglingclubofgreatbritain.org.uk/best-practise
• Shark Trust – Angling best practice: https://www.sharktrust.org/pages/faqs/category/angling-project