ANGLERS are being urged to help save a critically endangered fish which is at greater risk of extinction than the giant panda.

People are being encouraged to send any photographs of common skate they catch to Skatespotter, a new online catalogue.

The project aims to help conserve the species through identifying individual fish by their distinctive patterns and studying their movements.

Dr Jane Dodd, marine operations officer at Scottish Natural Heritage said: “We’re launching Skatespotter with more than 1500 images of nearly 800 flapper skate, taken by volunteer anglers in the Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area.