Purse Search Ireland is a citizen science project asking the public to record Mermaids’ Purses, the eggcases of sharks, skates and rays. These eggcases can provide valuable information on the location of nursery areas for Ireland’s egg laying sharks, skates and rays.
Information on nursery areas is crucial for effective conservation management and protection of vulnerable species. It’s also important for the sustainable development of fisheries. So if you are a keen beachcomber and have seen a mermaid’s purse on any shoreline around Ireland, they would love to hear from you!
If you find a Mermaid’s Purse take a photo (don’t forget to include your hand or a coin in the photo for scale!) and submit it to Purse Search Ireland using their online recording form.