There have been records of roker (thornback ray) Raja clavata, blonde ray Raja brachyura, cuckoo ray Leucoraja (Raja) naevus and electric ray Tetronarce (Torpedo) nobiliana being caught ‘in the vicinity of Lundy’ (Pullin, 1974), though most catches have been on sandbanks and ‘rough ground’ outside the boundaries of the MPA.
Basking sharks Cetorhinus maximus will be the largest shark species likely to be seen around Lundy. In past years, gatherings of over 20 sharks have been recorded swimming close to the surface, but there have been far fewer sightings of these giants in recent years. Other recent large shark sightings include a thresher shark Alopias volpinus seen breaking the water surface off the east side of the island on 21 Jul 2020. Large shark species typically caught by anglers ‘within the vicinity of Lundy (rather than seen under water by divers), include porbeagle Lamna nasus (usually between late May and October); tope Galeorhinus galeus; smooth hound Mustelus mustelus (usually between late spring and early summer); and spur-dog Squalus acanthias (most frequent around late spring).
The two shark species which occur in the largest numbers around the island are the small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula (which grows to 1.0 m in length) and the nursehound or bull huss Scyliorhinus stellaris (which grows to 1.6 m in length) – see the link below for video of these two species. Divers (and possibly snorkellers) may well encounter the egg cases of these small sharks attached to erect forms of marine life such as pink sea fans or branching sponges. The cases are tough and oblong with curly tendrils emanating from each corner, sometimes being referred to as ‘mermaid’s purses’. The empty cases may remain for some time after the baby shark has hatched out, their presence likely to damage the sea fan or sponge even further.
During the Marine Festival of 2022, we learned that sea anglers in SW Wales have long estimated the ratio of small-spotted catshark to nursehound as being about 10:1. In recent years however, that ratio appears to have reversed, meaning that far more nursehounds are being caught than small-spotted catsharks. The same situation appears to exist at Lundy, as in recent years there have been far more nursehounds (and their egg cases) being seen than small-spotted catsharks.
Shark egg cases are occasionally washed up on the Landing Bay shore. In 2020, egg cases of thornback ray Raja clavata (31 Dec 2019), cuckoo ray Leucoraja naevus on 31 Dec 2019 and 08 Apr 2020 and small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula on 31 Dec 2019 were found.
If you come across any sightings of sharks or of their egg cases you think might be of interest to the MPA's managers (especially if you took photos), please enter the details in the uploadable Sightings Recording Form here.
Video clips of small spotted catshark, bull huss and smoothhound, recorded by BRUVS (Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems) during August 2022, can be viewed below. Further information about the BRUVS project can be found here).
