Over the past couple of months there has been much chat on social media about the boating and none boating of sharks. These are being made by skippers and individuals who have their own opinions but do not represent the Shark Angling Club of Great Britain.

We have at the SACGB, a Shark handling guide in a best practice document. We are continually looking to update this document as we deem necessary and as more information about shark welfare becomes available.

In this document there is a comprehensive section on the ways of unhooking the captured shark either at the side of the boat or if the shark is boarded.

We also have recommended ways of boarding the sharks and what you should not do.

We believe that the skipper makes the decision on the best and safest method for each shark caught.

For the last couple of years now the Shark Angling Club of Great Britain has been working alongside Marine biologists from different universities and countries.

These biologist have all approached the club with a range of ideas and requests, but none of them were aware of the shark fishery that we have in this country.

The one thing that has come out of working with these experts is that our methods are good and they are often surprised by the care shown and the speed that boated sharks are returned to swim away.

We are at the end of the day an angling club, you need to have a shark of a certain size to become a member. We are continually working to look at new methods to accurately establish the weight of a shark in the water. At the moment we do not have one.

The rules we changed last year so those of you wishing not to boat sharks can with as much photographic evidence as possible put in a claim for trophies and as a result of this a none boated shark won the Mitchel Hedges trophy last year.

SACGB.