The Shark Trust announced this week that every donation to the Great Eggcase Hunt, made via a dedicated link, will be doubled.
This means that if you donate £10/~€11.53/~US$13.50, the Shark Trust will receive £20 for the Great Eggcase Hunt. Give £100 and it instantly becomes £200, and so on.
This match funding — which ends on April 29th, 2026 — is made possible thanks to the Big Give Earth Raise campaign: the UK’s largest collaborative environmental fundraising campaign.
The Shark Trust’s Great Eggcase Hunt engages people around the world to find and record shark and skate eggcases. Nearly half of all sharks, skates, and chimaeras lay eggs – and every record of one found helps build a clearer picture of where these species reproduce.
To date, citizen scientists have collectively recorded over half a million shark and skate eggcase submissions, revealing broad patterns of distribution, particularly around the British Isles. However, much of the deeper insight remains untapped. Without focused analysis, scientists risk missing seasonal, environmental and habitat-linked patterns that are critical for identifying vulnerable egglaying areas and informing effective conservation.
Senior Conservation Officer Cat Gordon said:
“Over more than two decades, the Great Eggcase Hunt has inspired thousands of people to discover the diversity of shark and skate species that call British waters home. Through free identification guides and accessible recording platforms, we’ve empowered a growing community of citizen scientists to contribute to real marine conservation. Support generated through Earth Raise will provide a vital boost, helping this community-driven initiative continue to thrive and expand its impact even further.”
Eggcases seen developing underwater are a crucial piece of the puzzle. However, less than 1% of the records received to date are from underwater submissions where the shark or skate embryo is still developing in its capsule. These observations help link the areas where empty eggcases regularly wash ashore with the habitats that are important for this early stage of the life cycle. As such, the Shark Trust is calling on divers to become more engaged in the project.
With funds generated through the Big Give Earth Raise campaign, the Shark Trust aims to analyze eggcase records to identify seasonal trends, environmental drivers – such as storms and ocean currents – and habitat associations linked to shark and skate egglaying. At the same time, improving reporting mechanisms and developing new resources to support and grow the network of trained Eggcase Champions, increasing high-quality data collection above and below the water.
The benefits of the Great Eggcase Hunt include:
• Generating important data on egglaying sharks and skate worldwide
• Supporting shark and skate conservation efforts, including identifying potentially important areas that would benefit from marine protection
• Discovering the broad diversity of native species
• Connecting people with the ocean and its inhabitants
• Providing a free, family-friendly activity for anyone visiting the coast
• Enhancing wellbeing and mental health through spending time in nature
To double your donation, go to this link.
