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.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here