A PROJECT to collect records kept by shark anglers for the benefit of conservation is already delivering positive results.

Keen local anglers John McMaster and Dr Simon Thomas were aware that anglers and charter skippers have long maintained records of all the sharks that are caught and released back into the sea.

By harnessing the power of this already existing citizen science, the two friends realised that they could create one of the world’s largest databases – and that this could have big benefits for extending knowledge and research into these creatures, certain species of which are threatened or endangered.

“Our vision was to collect as much high-quality historical data as possible, then keep it current by adding to it each year,” said John.

“We have now processed records from 1955 to the end of 2019, and in the last couple of days, have started to enter the data for this year.

“Once that’s complete we will have around 100,000 records, which we believe will make it the largest shark database in the world, apart from the one held by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) based in the US.”

The information contained in the records throws out fascinating and important stories – such as the five-year-old female blue shark, tagged off Looe on July 31, 1999, and, 16-and-a-half years later, recaptured south east of the Azores, over 1,500 nautical miles away.

The furthest that a tagged shark from Looe has been recaptured is 3,600 nautical miles away, off the coast of Venezuela.

Blue sharks visit our shores during the summer months and in recent years have done so in large numbers, says Dr Thomas, a marine biologist.

“The data we have collected illustrates how blue sharks use global ocean currents to circle the Atlantic basin and can cover up to 4,000 nautical miles a year before returning to our south west coast each summer.

“They are true ocean wanderers and travel exceptionally long distances during their lives.”

So far, Dr Thomas has produced two scientific papers from the data held in the records, one of which has been recognised by the International Commission for the Conservation of Tunas (ICCAT) who have asked him to present the paper at their next conference in Madrid.

“This form of angling-led citizen science has the potential to contribute significantly to the protection of sharks and other species,” he said.

“With recreational angling now recognised as a stakeholder in the new Fisheries Bill, it should be encouraged and supported.”

The project has been named the Pat Smith Database after “sharking legend” Pat, who is the current 130lbs class World and British Record holder and All Tackle British Record holder for a Porbeagle shark, with one of 369lb which she caught out of Looe in 1970.

Pat is 96, and although she no longer goes sharking, she visits Looe every year and stays in touch with the sport.