A protected angelshark nursery is not a predator-free refuge
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS
A validated citizen-science observation network documented six attacks or attempted attacks on juvenile angelsharks by three ray and skate species from 2020–2025. Nursery habitat still contains native predator–prey interactions.
WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ
Ecological nursery protection should preserve a functioning food web rather than treat every predator of a rare species as a management enemy.
CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY
The opportunistic sightings cannot quantify attack frequency, mortality rates or population effects and do not justify ray control.
SOURCE
Environmental Biology of Fishes — angelshark observations (2026)
View original evidence ↗
Citizen scientists documented six batoid predation events involving young angelsharks in Canary Island nursery waters.
Read the Wild Lands assessment →