Dr Judith Clarke, chairwoman of the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority said understanding of shark, ray and skate populations in the Irish Sea was currently insufficient to implement measures to protect the species.

BBC: Shark identification training for fishermen

Those participating will also be given materials to help identify at-risk species such as the small-spotted catshark, the starry smoothhound shark and the cuckoo ray.

BBC: Shark identification training for fishermen

Director of conservation at the Shark Trust, Ali Hood, said many of the species of shark, skate and ray species in the North and Irish seas had experienced significant population declines in recent years.

BBC: Shark identification training for fishermen