YouTuber, Alex Mcglynn, a biology graduate from the University of South Wales, co-runs popular angling channel The Hooky 2.
Alex shared footage of his rare catch of a 40lb tope shark from the beach, and its safe release again back into the sea, with his 2,000 subscribers – a video that has had over a quarter of a million views so far.
The YouTuber said the “remarkable and rare encounter” was an “unusual and unexpected catch for our area”.
The tope shark, also known as the school shark, is a slender, elegant shark species inhabiting the upper continental shelf down to 550m, and is known for its long migrations.
The shark has a grey upper body, white belly, two dorsal fins, and a distinctive notched tail. It can grow up to 6 feet long and primarily eats bony fish, but also consumes crustaceans and cephalopods.
There has never been any record of an unprovoked Tope attack on humans, so no need to fear this elegant shark.
The tope shark is currently listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List.
Alex said: “Tope sharks are not typically associated with inshore waters of South Wales, let alone caught directly from the beach.
“As someone with a background in marine biology, I’m aware that rising sea temperatures are starting to bring more unusual species into our coastal waters.
“This catch could be a sign of a growing presence of shark species in Welsh waters, something that has implications for local biodiversity, fisheries, and even public awareness of our changing seas.”
Tope sharks are vulnerable to overfishing due to their slow growth rate and relatively few offspring. Their flesh is sometimes used in “fish and chips” as a substitute for cod or haddock. In the past, tope sharks were targeted for their high vitamin A content in their liver.
Tope are protected in UK and EU waters, and if caught on rod and line must be returned to the sea alive.
