Rare and unusual fish

Fishes of conservation importance

Several species of fish have declined in European seas, whether this is due to overfishing, habitat destruction or other human activities. In recent years, several species of fish have been listed on nature conservation legislation. Although there are many lists of threatened species, such as the IUCN Red List and OSPAR, these do not confer legal protection. In terms of what affects UK fishermen, the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the EC's TAC and Quota Regulations are two mechanisms that do provide protection for some fish species. 

Basking shark Cetorhinus maximus has been listed since 1998. Basking shark is Britain's largest fish and can grown to about 10 m in length. It is a filter-feeding shark, eating various planktonic crustaceans, and is often seen at the surface in frontal systems. They are often seen in the western English Channel, around the Isle of Man and in Scottish waters. 

Since 2008, the angel shark Squatina squatina (below) has been protected in the 0-6 nm limits in the waters of England and Wales. Angel sharks were once widely distributed in the North Sea (e.g. on the Dogger bank), English Channel and Cardigan Bay, although there are few recent captures. Like most sharks it is highly to vulnerable to over-exploitation, and its large size makes them susceptible to capture in net fisheries from birth. Angel sharks can also be quite site specific, so restricting the re-colonization of former habitats.  

The two species of seahorse (Hippocampus spp., right) that occur in UK seas were added to the Wildlife and Countryside Act in 2008. These small-bodied species are captured occasionally in the English Channel and southern North Sea.

Giant goby Gobius cobitis and Couch's goby Gobius couchii has been listed since 1998. These two species have restricted distributions in the British Isles, and are most often reported from rocky shores. Hence, offshore fisheries will not really impact on these species. 

Within UK waters, several species of marine and diadromous fish are listed under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Sturgeon Acipenser sturio has been listed since 1992. This species has declined dramatically in northern Europe, and there is now only one river in northern Europe in which they breed (the Gironde in France). This conspicuous species, which can grow to 3.5 m long, is occasionally caught in coastal waters. They are also listed on Appendix I of CITES. Given the high risk of extinction, there is an ongoing awareness-raising campaign to highlight their plight (International action plan for the restoration of European sturgeon).  

Allis shad Alosa alosa is protected against "Killing, injuring & taking" whilst the related twaite shad Alosa fallaxis protected against the damage/destruction of places of shelter/protection only. Both species may be caught as a bycatch in UK fisheries, especially in coastal gillnet fisheries. Shads have a typical-herring like body, although they are easily distinguished by having a pronounced notch in the midline of the upper lip. They can reach more than 50 cm in length. Allis shad have 80-130 gillrakers on the first gill arch, whereas twaite shad have 40-60. Twaite shad also often have a series of 6-8 dark spots running along the side of the fish at the level of the eye.

Vendace Coregonus albula and whitefish Coregonus lavaretus are also listed on the Act, and although they occur in brackish waters elsewhere in their range, they occur in freshwater lakes in the UK. 

The TACs and Quota regulations of the Common Fisheries Policy has, since 2007, contained a list of prohibited species, and in both 2007 and 2008 it has been stated that "It shall be prohibited for Community vessels to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship and to land the following species in all Community and non-Community waters:- Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)- White shark (Carcharodon carcharias)."  

Please send any queries or records of rare and unusual fish to jim.ellis@cefas.co.uk.