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1. PREPARATION1. PREPARATION1. PREPARATION

2. FISHING TACKLE2. FISHING TACKLE2. FISHING TACKLE

3. UNHOOKING3. UNHOOKING3. UNHOOKING

4. LANDING4. LANDING4. LANDING

5. HANDLING5. HANDLING5. HANDLING

6. RELEASING6. RELEASING6. RELEASING

7. REPORTING7. REPORTING7. REPORTING

(if necessary)(if necessary)(if necessary)

(if necessary)(if necessary)(if necessary)

REMEMBER that under EU Legislation (40/2013 order ARM/2689/2009) you are prohibited to catch the following shark and ray species: angel shark, butterfly ray, oceanic manta ray, guitar fish, white skate, round stingray, thresher shark, hammerhead shark, basking shark, porbeagle, great white shark,

silky shark, oceanic whitetip shark. If any are accidentally caught, please follow the best-practice guide and release them immediately.

The Canary Islands are home to a number of endangered sharks and rays, especially the angel shark. This guide has been developed with the sportfishing community to increase the probability of these animals surviving when they are returned to the water.

· Have your camera, landing net and any equipment you use to unhook the shark ready on the boat before casting. · Have your camera, landing net and any equipment you use to unhook the shark ready on the boat before casting. Make sure the crew know what role they will play.Make sure the crew know what role they will play.· To reduce unnecessary delays when the shark is being unhooked· To reduce unnecessary delays when the shark is being unhookedReason:Reason:

· Have your camera, landing net and any equipment you use to unhook the shark ready on the boat before casting. Make sure the crew know what role they will play.· To reduce unnecessary delays when the shark is being unhookedReason:

· Use always circle hooks . If these are unavailable, use barbless brass hooks or flatten the barb down on the hooks you use.· Use always circle hooks . If these are unavailable, use barbless brass hooks or flatten the barb down on the hooks you use.· To reduce the chance of gut hooking so that it is easier to unhook the shark· To reduce the chance of gut hooking so that it is easier to unhook the sharkReason:Reason:· Use a strong line· Use a strong line· To reduce the time it takes to reel in the shark and thus reduce tackle loss· To reduce the time it takes to reel in the shark and thus reduce tackle lossReason:Reason:

· Use always circle hooks . If these are unavailable, use barbless brass hooks or flatten the barb down on the hooks you use.· To reduce the chance of gut hooking so that it is easier to unhook the sharkReason:· Use a strong line· To reduce the time it takes to reel in the shark and thus reduce tackle lossReason:

· Always try to unhook the shark at the side of the boat. If you have to cut the leader, cut it as close the hook as possible.· Always try to unhook the shark at the side of the boat. If you have to cut the leader, cut it as close the hook as possible.· To reduce stress on the shark as the water supports its internal organs· To reduce stress on the shark as the water supports its internal organsReason:Reason:· If you need to land the shark to unhook it safely, use a large landing net to bring it onto the boat. · If you need to land the shark to unhook it safely, use a large landing net to bring it onto the boat. Never use a gaff.Never use a gaff.· To support the internal organs and ensure no injury is caused· To support the internal organs and ensure no injury is causedReason:Reason:

· Always try to unhook the shark at the side of the boat. If you have to cut the leader, cut it as close the hook as possible.· To reduce stress on the shark as the water supports its internal organsReason:· If you need to land the shark to unhook it safely, use a large landing net to bring it onto the boat. Never use a gaff.· To support the internal organs and ensure no injury is causedReason:

· If the shark is brought onto the boat, place it on a cool, wet, soft surface (e.g. a wet towel). · If the shark is brought onto the boat, place it on a cool, wet, soft surface (e.g. a wet towel). Never put a fish straight onto the deck.Never put a fish straight onto the deck.· To reduce stress on the shark and stop it thrashing· To reduce stress on the shark and stop it thrashingReason:Reason:· Place a towel soaked in seawater over the eyes of the shark· Place a towel soaked in seawater over the eyes of the shark· To keep it calm and stop it thrashing· To keep it calm and stop it thrashingReason:Reason:

· If the shark is brought onto the boat, place it on a cool, wet, soft surface (e.g. a wet towel). Never put a fish straight onto the deck.· To reduce stress on the shark and stop it thrashingReason:· Place a towel soaked in seawater over the eyes of the shark· To keep it calm and stop it thrashingReason:

· Never hold the shark just by its tail, its fins or by the · Never hold the shark just by its tail, its fins or by the gills. You need to support the ventral surface.gills. You need to support the ventral surface.· To reduce pressure on its internal organs which · To reduce pressure on its internal organs which Reason:Reason:can lead to deathcan lead to death

· Never hold the shark just by its tail, its fins or by the gills. You need to support the ventral surface.· To reduce pressure on its internal organs which Reason:can lead to death

· Release the shark as soon as possible after unhooking.· Release the shark as soon as possible after unhooking.· To reduce the chances of mortality after release· To reduce the chances of mortality after release Reason: Reason: · When releasing a shark, never throw it over the side of the boat, carefully lower · When releasing a shark, never throw it over the side of the boat, carefully lower the shark into the water facing the tide or wavesthe shark into the water facing the tide or waves· Forces oxygen through its gills so that it can quickly swim away· Forces oxygen through its gills so that it can quickly swim awayReason:Reason:

· Release the shark as soon as possible after unhooking.· To reduce the chances of mortality after release Reason: · When releasing a shark, never throw it over the side of the boat, carefully lower the shark into the water facing the tide or waves· Forces oxygen through its gills so that it can quickly swim awayReason:

To further help our science and conservation project, To further help our science and conservation project,

please submit sightings and photos of sharks and rays to please submit sightings and photos of sharks and rays to

our online database: our online database: gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg

www.angelsharkproject.comwww.angelsharkproject.com

We use this information to better understand and We use this information to better understand and

conserve these animals.conserve these animals.

To further help our science and conservation project,

please submit sightings and photos of sharks and rays to

our online database: gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg

www.angelsharkproject.com

We use this information to better understand and

conserve these animals.

RKA PHS R OLE JEG CN TA

RKA PHS R OLE JEG CN TA

RKA PHS R OLE JEG CN TA

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