Illegal trammel net discovered at Punta Mujeres

Angelotes, or angel sharks, have had a bad week so far.  Agents from Seprona and the local police were called to Punta Mujeres yesterday, where an illegal trammel net had been discovered.

When the apparently abandoned net, measuring 25 metres, was retrieved, three dead angel sharks were found within.

Elsewhere, the film maker Felipe Ravian released footage of a butterfly ray catching and eating a small angel shark. Butterfly rays are large rays with extended wing-like fins that cover themselves in sand and lie in wait on the ocean floor.

In the film, the ray can be seen slapping a fin down on a curious angel shark, then eating it.

Angel sharks, also known as monkfish, are an endangered species but the Canary Islands remain one of the sanctuaries where they are relatively common. In the winter they often come closer to shore – we met one patrolling a reef in Costa Teguise earlier this week. Although they can reach more than two metres in length and are equipped with sharp teeth, angel sharks are only dangerous to humans if molested.