enetics offers a powerful lens through which we can better understand individual organisms—whether human, dog, or shark. In essence, genetic studies focus on inherited traits, providing crucial insights into identity and variation. While genetics is an incredibly useful tool, it’s not always as straightforward as it may seem. However, it plays a vital role in identifying individuals, detecting genetic variation, and confirming species, which is particularly important in areas such as combating illegal wildlife trade.

For Emma’s master’s project, she aimed to determine whether it was possible to collect genetic material from individual blue sharks using an unexpectedly simple tool: a toothbrush. Inspired by previous studies with basking sharks and manta rays, this approach wasn’t as rogue as it may first sound. Blue sharks proved to be the perfect candidates—they were easy to approach and appeared undisturbed by the toothbrush being swabbing along their flanks as they swam past.

With the help of our dedicated skippers, who carefully placed the used toothbrush head into a sample tube with RNAlater and replaced it with a fresh one, this project was seamlessly carried out alongside customers enjoying their sharky encounters and allowed participants to learn about the ongoing research while having a memorable experience.

Key takeaways from this project include the ability for it to be conducted without disrupting the eco-tourism experience—and, in fact, it added value for our customers. The sharks were easily sampled, and since none of them left the area, we concluded that the disturbance was minimal. Using the toothbrush, both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were successfully collected, extracted, and sequenced, resulting in the identification of 11 individual sharks. One shark was either “recaptured” 10 days later, or we may have sampled sisters or a mother and daughter; it was difficult to determine for certain, as the only successful genetic sample from that individual came from mtDNA, which is passed directly from the mother.

This project was not only enjoyable and informative, but it also enriched our understanding of the genetic makeup of blue sharks in the Celtic Deep. It provided valuable lessons for future research, should this approach be built upon in the future.

Blue sharks are one of the most widespread and abundant species of shark, yet there is still much to learn about their behaviour. In the Celtic Deep, key questions about their habitat use, duration of stay, and movement patterns remain unclear. Tagging offers an invaluable opportunity to gain deeper insights into how these sharks use this area.

With North Atlantic blue sharks now suspected to be Endangered, due to mounting pressure from the fishing industry and habitat squeeze driven by climate change, the subset of sub-adult female sharks we encounter is particularly important for the species' long-term survival. With large mature females and small juveniles less than 1m in length also seen, understanding more about these sharks could help elucidate important information essential for ensuring their widespread conservation and local protection.

We've had the privilege of collaborating with various organisations, including MARECO and Swansea University, to look at the design and application of tags and attachment methods. Prioritising the welfare of the animals, we ensure that tags are attached while both the sharks and the team are free-swimming. This decision was made to ensure we are not inflicting unnecessary physiological stress or damage to the sharks that can result from being caught on a line and boarded. This is accomplished either through direct placement or by using an adapted spear-gun for sub-dermal attachment of the tag. While one method is less invasive than the other, during both projects we observed sharks returning to the area almost immediately, indicating minimal disruption to their behaviour. 

BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video) is essentially underwater camera trapping—a powerful research tool for studying the diversity, abundance, and behaviour of marine species without human presence. It allows researchers to capture footage of both elusive species rarely seen and common species exhibiting natural behaviours. The beauty of BRUVs lies in their versatility—whether you're observing more conspicuous species or documenting rare behaviours, the footage provides invaluable insights into the marine ecosystem.

BRUV setups can be customised in many ways, including transforming them into RUVs (Remote Underwater Video Systems), which eliminate the bait component. These systems can be used in shallow waters or at greater depths, as long as the equipment can withstand the pressure. We utilise two types of BRUVs—coastal benthic and offshore pelagic—each chosen depending on the specific research question and available resources.

Our coastal benthic BRUVs are deployed on the seafloor, usually no deeper than 10m. We transport the BRUV frame on a paddleboard to a spot we want to deploy it. One of the team will dive down to check the habitat type at the bottom and to ensure it isn’t going to land on a passing spider crab or delicate structure. Once the BRUV is in place, we leave it to record for an hour before retrieving it and reviewing the GoPro footage which is usually left for a rainy day. The initial aim of this study was to examine the tempo-spatial distribution of coastal elasmobranch species aka where and when can we find coastal sharks, skates and rays. However, our sole star so far has been the small spotted catshark. So, although we are making adaptations to our protocol to increase the chances of capturing other species, we are also now looking at using the small-spotted catsharks' unique spot patterns to identify individuals, with the aim to look at population size and connectivity within small bays. Along the way, we've also captured some fantastic crab wars, seen an array of fish species, lobsters and even the odd seal.

The offshore pelagic BRUV was used in a PhD study by Sol Lucas from Newcastle University. For this research, we deployed the BRUV to a depth of 10 meters, over 100 meters of water, and about 30 miles offshore in the Celtic Deep. The goal of the study was to explore whether ferrite magnets could deter blue sharks from investigating the bait canister. This research focuses on the sharks' unique ability to detect electric and magnetic pulses through their ampullae of Lorenzini, specialized organs filled with jelly that cover their snouts and can sense minute electromagnetic fields within a range of 1-2 meters. If the magnets successfully deterred the sharks, this technology could be applied to fishing hooks, potentially reducing blue shark bycatch, which currently makes up the largest portion of bycatch in North Atlantic longline fisheries—often outnumbering the targeted species.

Future BRUV projects aspire to an offshore benthic BRUVs study, deploying a set-up in the Celtic Deep to depths of 100m+.  

Recording wildlife sightings is a key part of maximising our time offshore. Offshore habitats are often remote and difficult to access, with few people actively documenting wildlife in these areas, leading to inconsistencies in sightings data. By meticulously recording our encounters, we are collating valuable baseline data that could reveal shifts in populations over time. This information can be used to help support conservation efforts, inform management decisions, and assess the effectiveness of environmental protection measures. Establishing a clear benchmark, these records guide future research and monitoring, ensuring more informed and proactive environmental stewardship.

During our trips, we frequently encounter marine megafauna, including common dolphins, minke whales, fin whales, sunfish, thresher sharks, porbeagle sharks, and bluefin tuna, with the potential for a whole range of other large marine inhabitants to be spotted. There is also an array of spectacular seabirds from the large northern gannet to tiny storm petrels, there is an abundance of life on the wing and the wave. We keep a particular log of Manx shearwater rafts which are of interest to the Skomer island wardens.

We also take detailed notes on the blue sharks we encounter, recording their estimated size, sex, presence of mating scars, behaviour, evidence of entanglement or capture. Some of the most effective ways to measure size is through paired laser-photogrammetry or paired stereo-photogrammetry (using cameras). The laser method involves two lasers positioned a fixed distance apart on a handle, with a camera in between. The software used to review the footage determines the number of pixels between the laser points on the image of the shark. As the true distance between the laser points is known, e.g. 30cm, it can extrapolate using the pixel numbers to find an accurate estimate of the total length of the animal. Stereo-photogrammetry, on the other hand, uses two cameras (such as GoPros) slightly angled to capture an overlapping field of view. After capturing the footage, software is used to calculate the animal’s length. A significant advantage of stereo-photogrammetry is that it doesn't require constant calibration, unlike lasers, which can sometimes move within their cases even when properly fitted. It seems like a lot of effort to go to just for size, but size is an important life history parameter that can be an indication of maturity status and overtime can reveal over-exploitation of a species (usually seen by a decrease in average size).

As part of his PhD, Sol Lucas compared the accuracy of these two methods. To minimize sampling errors and maximize data, he developed a device that combined both laser and stereo-photogrammetry on the same handle for direct comparisons. To our delight, the stereo-photogrammetry method outperformed the laser system. Thanks to the insights gained from Sol’s work, we’re now applying stereo-photogrammetry to our offshore marine monitoring system, which is currently being designed in collaboration with a talented group of engineering students from Swansea University.

We’re passionate about exploring innovative solutions to longstanding challenges, whether it’s refining a design, testing new methods, or creating something entirely new by combining experience with emerging needs. That’s why we’re thrilled to be collaborating with a talented team of engineering students from Swansea University on an exciting project: a multi-sensory marine monitoring device. We hope to deploy this device during our trips offshore, using it as another tool to ensure we are using our platform in the best possible way.

Working with the team has been an incredibly rewarding experience as we’ve fine-tuned the design to ensure it’s user-friendly and integrates seamlessly with our operations—without compromising the guest experience. The team’s expertise has been invaluable, bringing forward clever design and software solutions to overcome the challenges of water and pressure. The device will feature a range of capabilities, including BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video), stereo-photogrammetry for accurate length measurements, and the ability to collect water samples. There’s also potential for adding sensors for monitoring salinity, pH, and temperature, as well as a hydrophone for detecting and identifying cetaceans such as dolphins, whales, and porpoises.