TWO bull huss sharks had a lucky escape when a pair of divers discovered them trapped inside a lost crab pot during a recent dive.

Film footage shows the moment that Cornwall Wildlife Trust marine conservation officer Matt Slater and dive buddy Sean Dixon discovered the pot and freed the sharks, alongside several crabs, during a Cornwall Council-funded project monitoring maerl beds off St Mawes on the Roseland peninsula.

“It’s amazing that two sharks would fit in there,” said Matt. “It takes sharks a long time to die, but they would have starved to death eventually. They could have been trapped in there for weeks.”

While this rescue had a happy ending, Cornwall Wildlife Trust says it highlights the wider issue facing the fishing industry: “ghost gear”, otherwise known as abandoned and lost fishing gear.

“Nobody wants to see wildlife trapped like this, and fishers don’t want to lose gear either,” added Matt. “This is an issue we can only solve by working together. Better reporting, recovery and prevention of lost gear can help protect marine wildlife while supporting sustainable fishing businesses.

“The vast majority of gear loss is accidental, often occurring during bad weather or challenging sea conditions. That’s why it’s important that fishers, conservation organisations and coastal communities work together on practical solutions.”

Cornwall Wildlife Trust is calling on the government to invest in measures that help prevent gear loss, improve reporting and support recovery efforts, alongside wider action to protect Cornwall’s marine environment, all while supporting sustainable fishing.

It also entreats members of the public who encounter lost fishing gear while at sea to record the location and share it with organisations such as Liskeard-based volunteer marine conservation and awareness charity Fathoms Free, which can help coordinate recovery efforts.