Using baited underwater video, staff at Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre and researchers at Cardiff university spotted something unusual. They observed a small spotted catshark with white patches on its lower body but normal eye pigmentation, consistent with leucism rather than albinism. This rare colour anomaly adds to only a handful of known cases in this species and suggests such variants may be under-reported. Non-invasive video surveys and citizen science are invaluable for documenting these unusual sharks, though the ecological implications of leucism remain largely unknown. This is the first record of a piebald leucistic small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) in Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC), UK. 

This study highlights the power of collaboration between academic institutions and researchers and environmental NGOs, such as the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. By working together, scientific research can be better focused on species, places, and knowledge gaps that are most relevant to conservation on the ground. These partnerships can turn field observations into published research that improves our understanding of wildlife in special areas like Cardigan Bay. Our Marine Conservation and Research Manager, Sarah Perry, comments on the other benefits of collaborative working.

It helps share scientific knowledge beyond academia, connect research with local communities, and inspire wider engagement with marine conservation. - Dr Sarah Perry

This paper was developed from research conducted as part of Dr Neil Cook’s PhD at Cardiff University. The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) was the Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS) industry partner for the PhD, providing support and applied context for the research. Dr Sarah Perry acted as Neil’s industry supervisor on behalf of WTSWW, contributing expertise and guidance throughout the project. The work presented in this paper is therefore directly underpinned by data collected and research undertaken during the PhD, which was supported by WTSWW as an industry partner, and the paper was published in November 2025.