Cornwall has been named as the UK’s shark capital with at least 20 species found off the coast.

Nat Geo WILD commissioned Dr Ken Collins, former administrator of the UK Shark Tagging Programme and senior research fellow at the University of Southampton, to map the future of Britain’s shark population to celebrate the start of Sharkfest, a week-long series of TV programming dedicated to sharks.

A new ‘Shark Map of Britain’ released today estimates that there may be currently over 10 million small sharks and 100,000 larger sharks in British waters, as well as some 40 different species.

Current species indigenous to our waters such as the Basking, Thresher and Nursehound are declining in numbers due to over-fishing and other pressures so need to be protected, says Dr Collins.

He said: “Though while the potential number of shark species around the UK may increase in the next few decades, the overall number of sharks (especially the larger ones) will fall as a result of overfishing, plastic waste and climate change. It’s really important we work together to prevent a premature extinction of these wonderful creatures.”