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The angelshark is a critically endangered shark species due to its disappearance or low abundance throughout its distribution, with the exception of the Canary Archipelago where, according to the organization, its populations are believed to be stable. However, knowledge and understanding of their residence and movement patterns are limited to occasional observations of their presence in coastal areas of Gran Canaria during a decade. The project aims, in an innovative way, to provide essential knowledge to ensure its effective management in the Special Area of Conservation(SAC) Costa de Sardina del Norte and on the role of this SAC in its life cycle. The implementation of a hydrophone network aims at continuous monitoring, even after the end of the project. In addition, it could be extended to other species, as well as its replication in other protected areas of the marine Natura 2000 Network. In addition, the project aims to raise awareness of the species and disseminate information about the importance of the area to the users of this space.

The main objective of the project has been to improve the knowledge of the angelshark(Squatina squatina) for its conservation in the ZEC Costa de Sardina del Norte, in Gran Canaria.

Specific objectives include:

• Continuous monitoring of the species within the SAC over time.
• Determine movement patterns of the species.
• Identify residency patterns of the species.
• Describe the habitat use of the species.
• Raise public awareness of the presence and importance of the species in the SAC.

• Implementation of an acoustic network for monitoring: installation of a hydrophone network.
• Implementation of an acoustic network for monitoring: marking of angelsharks with acoustic transmitters and installation of fixed acoustic transmitters.
• Implementation of an acoustic network for monitoring: change of hydrophones and access to stored information.
• Implementation of an acoustic network for monitoring: in situ monitoring of hydrophones.
• Implementation of an acoustic network for monitoring: data analysis.
• Dissemination actions: socialization of the project and the species with citizens.
• Dissemination actions: socialization of the project with ZEC users.
• Outreach actions: Proposal to update the management plan for the ZEC Costa de Sardina del Norte in relation to the angelshark squatina.
• Dissemination actions: to publicize the species and the project(ex situ).
• Dissemination actions: socialization of results with governmental entities.

The project has made it possible to implement a marine acoustic telemetry network that has made it possible to continuously monitor the Angelshark and know its movements in an area of more than 50 hectares. This method, complementary to other research lines of the group, was developed to provide a scientific basis for conservation strategies in Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) of the Natura 2000 Network. The angelsharks used the entire bay of Sardina on the island of Gran Canaria with a high residence rate during the study period, demonstrating and reinforcing the importance of the update of the ZEC management planand the potential of this area for the conservation of the species.

The methodology developed within the framework of the initiative is a angelot monitoring tool and to evaluate aspects of the threats and pressures to which they are subjected, due to their ability to reveal the movements of individuals with an approximation and resolution that has not been achieved so far in the angelsharks. Its application can be adapted to other species and areas of interest. The project has maximized the possibility of obtaining information and created synergies with others by using transmitters that can be detected by equipment from different manufacturers.

Information has been transmitted to a wide range of people, from schoolchildren to adults, disseminating aspects of the project in 3 languages: Spanish, English and Dutch. Also illustrated with an infographic and video, in addition to raising awareness of the marine Natura 2000 Network, and the presence and importance of angelsharks in the ZEC North Sardine Coast and the Canary Islands.