A new initiative hopes to develop a better understanding of sharks, skates and rays living in Welsh coastal waters, Nation Cymru  has reported.

The Zoological Society London (ZSL) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are leading Project SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities) which offers people of all ages and backgrounds the chance to get involved in marine conservation to safeguard some of the rarest marine species in Wales

Project SIARC says it hopes to enlist the help of “fishers, schoolchildren, researchers and citizen scientists” from across Wales to gain understanding of some of the more unusual coastal species, such as the angelshark (Squatina squatina) and common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca), which are listed as Critically Endangered and Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species respectively.

Project SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities) offers communities the chance to get involved in safeguarding some of the rarest marine species in Wales such as angelshark, tope, common stingray and spurdog. People of all ages can dive into marine conservation and learn about the extraordinary sharks, skates and rays living in Welsh coastal waters, in a new project which gives diverse local communities the chance to be part of a ‘green recovery’ in Wales.

The project has received a £390,000 grant from the Welsh Government’s Nature Networks Fund which was delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, as well as a £180,997 National Lottery grant from National Lottery Heritage Fund and £40,000 grant from On the Edge.

The Welsh coast is home to a range of marine life, including 26 species of sharks, skates and rays – a group known as elasmobranchs. Elasmobranchs are an important part of Wales’ natural heritage, with significant conservation and cultural importance. Despite this, little is known about their biology and ecology.

Although community engagement and research will be focused at two Special Areas of Conservation (SAC): ‘Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau’ and ‘Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries’, Project SIARC offers a wide range of free in-person and online opportunities, from learning how to identify elasmobranch eggcases, to helping detect sharks in underwater video footage, and scouring archives for historical information. In addition, Project SIARC will identify opportunities and break down barriers to ensure a wider range of people from diverse backgrounds are able to access and get involved in marine conservation.

Anyone currently living or residing in Wales can get involved with Project SIARC by visiting www.projectsiarc.com