Countryfile’s Hamza Yassin gobsmacked after discovery ‘I wasn’t expecting this’

Countryfile presenter Hamza Yassin was left stunned during Sunday night’s episode

Countryfile’s Hamza Yassin gobsmacked after discovery ‘I wasn’t expecting this'(Image: BBC)

Countryfile star Hamza Yassin was left gobsmacked during Sunday’s (February 22) episode.

In the latest instalment, Hamza Yassin was on the west coast of Scotland in search of one of the UK’s rarest marine giants – the flapper skate. This ancient species has been gliding through our waters for millions of years, but today, it teeters on the edge of extinction.

Hamza joined the team using cutting-edge science and a network of sea anglers to help bring the flapper skate back from the brink. The show also delved into the Countryfile archives to celebrate the wonders of the marine world around the UK.

During the episode, Hamza sailed out of Oban and across the water from the Isle of Mull. The star entered a Marine Protected Area created to protect the critically endangered creature of the deep, reports the Mirror.

Hamza Yassin was left speechless on Sunday(Image: BBC)

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At the start of his adventure, Hamza went bait fishing for mackerel, with the star aiming to collect three fish per hook.

“We grind the [barb] off or flatten them down. It doesn’t damage the skate’s mouth. It does have the disadvantage as well – if you’re not playing the fish right and you get a bit of slack, it can easily slip the hook. But it’s a risk worth taking,” a professional angler explained.

After collecting enough mackerel, Hamza and the team went to see if they could do their bit to protect the rare flapper skate. Dr Jane Dodd has been working with local anglers on this project for more than 15 years.

She explained that they would put the skate onto the dive lift to lift it up to their scanner. If it wasn’t tagged, they’d have to do that too, before releasing it back into the water.

The group patiently waited and eventually caught a skate, but it took over 20 minutes for it to reach the surface.

The host went searching for flapper skates(Image: BBC)

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Hamza put on a harness to try and wind the skate in, but was shocked at how difficult it was. “You are joking me. I was not expecting this!” he said.

The angler explained that the secret was not to lift the rod too high, as it would go backwards, which is called high-sticking. Hamza shared: “As soon as I lift, you could feel the pressure is like, ‘No, you’re not going to lift me up.’ And it just goes back down again.”

Praising the team, the host added: “How these guys do it on a daily basis, I don’t know, but at least I’m doing my bit for science… This is a juggling act… Puts me to shame, to be perfectly honest. I’m in awe of what these guys are doing.”

The team eventually brought the skate up to the boat, shortly before releasing it, much to Hamza’s delight. “This is absolutely incredible,” he said.

Countryfile is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

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