Solway Shark Safari

Join us for a morning of exploration on the shores of Allonby Bay and the newly designagted HPMA as we search for sharks! The UK is home to over 40 species of sharks plus at least 16 species of their close relatives the skates and rays.t Dr Jessica Mitchell (a zoologist and Shark expert)will lead us on a guided shark safari to learn more about these fascinating fish species which are collectively known as elasmobranchs.

Whilst we can’t promise we will see an adult shark we are likely to find their egg cases. Also known as mermaid’s purses, egg cases of many sharks, skates and rays are washed up on the shore. Identifying and counting these egg cases can help us keep track of species numbers (We will share our findings with the Shark Trust after this walk).

We will also talk about the fascinating history of elasmobranchs. Sharks have survived many mass extinction events and have been around on earth for over 400 million years! They have some unique features such as teeth which replace throughout their lives and sensors on their body to detect electrical currents to help them hunt. The sharks and other elasmobranchs have shown incredible resilience to a changing world but many species now face huge challenges such as over-fishing and climate change. We will think about how the Soloway coast provides an important habitat for sharks and other elasmobranchs and what we can do to protect it.

This activity is suitable for all ages but will involve walking across the uneven terrain of the beach.