Dogfish
"Dogfish"
Photo credit Derek Donsworth
“I modelled my Dogfish in a doughnut shape”
Whilst reading about Dogfish for the Critical Fish Trail, I learned a couple of interesting facts that inspired this piece.
Firstly, they have very rough skin – the original sandpaper. Secondly, they curl up into a “doughnut” when threatened. This puts their rough skin on the outside and protects them.
I modelled my Dogfish in a doughnut shape using clay and added sand collected from the beach at Scarborough. Once fired in the kiln, the sand embedded into the clay creating a rough texture like sandpaper.
Artist: Maria Donnai
Fish Profile:
Dogfish
Small-spotted Catshark or Lesser spotted Dogfish - Scyliorhinus canicular
Conservation status
Listed as of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
However the MCS have concerns over Lesser Spotted Dogfish: ‘Fish from the North Sea and eastern English Channel are Fish to Avoid. Dogfish from the western UK are OK but Improvements are Needed. There is little management in place and not much is known about the population.’