Deep Sea World in Fife has confirmed that its female Angel Shark – on loan from Underwater World in Hastings - is pregnant.

This is a first for the species in the captive environment and represents an important step in the understanding of this increasingly rare shark species, found within European waters.

The Angel Shark Mating Project, a collaboration between Deep Sea World and UnderWater World involves the only captive mature Angel Sharks in the UK.

The project started in 2002 when Deep Sea World transported one of its two male sharks to Hastings, which, at the time, held the female. In 2004, after no reported successful mating, the female was transported up to Deep Sea World where she was introduced to the second male within its large shark tank.

Since then, Deep Sea World has recorded both mating and breeding behaviour.

Suspicions that the female may be pregnant started in early April when the female visibly changed shape underneath. At that point investigations began to see if it was possible to scan a shark for pregnancy.

In mid July a vet brought along portable ultrasound equipment and the shark was removed for what was believed to be the first scanning of an Angel Shark. After some experimentation with the equipment, a baby Angel Shark was captured on film moving within the female.

This was incredibly exciting news for the team as it confirmed suspicions that she was indeed pregnant.

Initial estimates put the age of the babies at around 4 months. The babies are born after almost 12 months and are around 20-30cm at birth. Angel Sharks have been known to give birth to between 9 – 20 young.

Staff at Deep Sea World believe this is the first reported successful mating of this species of Angel Shark in the UK, if not in Europe.