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Basking Shark Watch
Basking Shark Watch is a public
volunteer sightings scheme that
aims to enhance our knowledge of
basking sharks in UK waters and raise
awareness about this spectacular
species.
Basking Shark Watch was
launched by the Marine Conservation
Society (MCS) in 1987 as part of its
campaign to protect this vulnerable species, and to facilitate informed conservation management of basking sharks in UK waters. Members of the public and interested organisations report details of their shark sightings in UK waters to MCS.
Records are then collated into a database for further analysis and mapping.
How you can help
• Please report your basking shark sightings to MCS, online at www.mcsuk.org, by completing and posting Basking Shark Watch recording forms, or by calling us on 01989 566 017. Free report cards, a poster and factsheet are available upon request.
• Please report any basking shark entanglements in fishing gear or marine debris.
• Follow the Basking Shark Code of Conduct, available from the Shark Trust at
www.sharktrust.org when out on the water, and send any photographs to the European Photo-ID project at www.baskingsharks.co.uk
• Volunteer as a Basking Shark Watch local coo rdinator and organise local surveys and basking shark awareness programmes amongst local sea- users.
• Help reduce the trade in shark products, by boycotting any establishments that sell these goods, such as shark fin soup, and inform MCS so that we can request that they stop selling them.
• Make a donation now! Help MCS continue to contribute to the research and protection of the basking shark.
Photo-Identification
Photo-identification is a powerful tool for studying sharks in their natural environment.
The European Basking Shark Photoi d Project (EBS PIP) was created to catalogue images of Basking Sharks in order to establish greater understanding of the population size, structure and movements of Basking Sharks around the British Isles and abroad.
It is very easy for everyone to get involved in the project and make a significant contribution to the greater understanding and conservation of Basking Sharks.
By taking photographs of the fins or any other characteristic features of Basking Sharks and submitting them to the project you are taking an active role in an ongoing shark conservation effort.
To find out more about the project and to submit your images, go to:-
www.baskingsharks.org
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Basking Sharks
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The Basking Shark: Cetorhin us maxim us
The basking shark is the largest fish in the Northeast Atlantic, growing in excess of 11 metres in length and weighing up to 7 tonnes. It can be regularly found around the coasts of the UK and Ireland, filter-feeding on seasonally abundant plankton. Although little is known about basking shark ecology, we do know they are slow- growing, late-maturing animals, with low fecundity (approximately 6 pups per litter every 2-4 years).
Identification
• Large angular dorsal fin
• Elongate body
• Prominent snout
• Clearly visible pale gill slits
• Wide, open mouth when feeding
Basking sharks are usually observed on or near the surface. singly or in groups.The dorsal fin, tail (caudal fin) and snout are often visible above the sea surface while the shark swims slowly, with its mouth open when feeding.
Food: Basking Sharks feed
passively on zooplankton and are thought to be capable of filtering over 1,800 tonnes of water per hour.
Distribution: Basking Sharks have a circumglobal distribution and are found in most temperate waters.
Behaviour: Basking Sharks are pelagic species that are often seen singly or in groups of up to 100 feeding at the surface. Despite their size, Basking Sharks can leap clean out of the water. |
Population Status
Basking sharks inhabit coastal and oceanic temperate waters of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea4. In the UK, they are most commonly reported between April and October and are rarely seen during winter, suggesting that they seasonally migrate to shallower coastal waters during summer. Recent tracking studies show that sharks from UK waters carry out extensive horizontal and vertical migrations, appearing to stay within Northeast Atlantic continental shelf waters during winter, probably feeding on deep- water plankton5. The global and UK population status of the basking shark is unknown and due to its life history characteristics (long-lived, slow-maturing and low reproductive potential), the species is considered to be extremely vunerable to overfishing and is described as 'vulnerable' by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) red List of threatened Species.
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Feeding basking shark
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Threats
Basking sharks have been exploited worldwide by targeted fisheries for several hundred years, historically driven by demand for oil contained in the sharks’ livers. While the value of basking shark oil decreased in the late 1 900s, shark fin prices rose steeply, due to an increased demand from the Southeast Asian shark fin soup market. In the last 15 years world trade for shark fins has risen by up to 400%, with an estimated 8,000 tonnes of fins being landed/sold per annum7. The high international value of basking shark fins means that the Northeast Atlantic fishery for this species is still viable4, and explains why bycaught basking sharks are landed for trade. In 2000, it was reported that basking sharks caught as bycatch in Norway yielded between 70-90 kg of fins, representing £1,500 per shark.
The continued and unregulated expansion of the shark fin market could pose a real threat to basking shark populations.
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Basking shark being landed by the last operating fishery in the UK, 1997 (subsequently closed)
Shark fins on sale, China
A basking shark dorsal fin |
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Current Protection
Basking sharks are protected at national and international levels (see Table 1). However, there is currently no protective legislation for basking sharks in the Republic of Ireland, and basking shark protection is currently under consideration as part of a review of The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. Basking sharks are protected to some extent in a number of other countries and seas including: Isle of Man, Guernsey, Sweden, New Zealand, United States, and in the Mediterranean.
Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES)
Listed on Appendix II in 2003. International regulation and monitoring of trade in basking shark products required by signatory states.
Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).
Listed under ScheduleS in 1998. Protected from intentional killing, capture, or disturbance out to 1 2nm around coast of Great Britain. Sale or possession of any part of a basking shark prohibited within Great Britain.
Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000)
Protected against’intentional and reckless’ disturbance in England and Wales.
Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act (2004)
Protected against’intentional and reckless’ disturbance and harassment in Scotland out to 1 2nm. Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code is required for cetacean and basking shark watching operations.
International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (2004)
Shark finning ban adopted, which will provide new protective measures for sharks in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
Convention on Migratory Species of Wild
Animals (CMS or the Bonn Convention)
Listed on Appendix I and II in November 2005. Signatory states should introduce protective legislation. Signatory states should cooperatively manage shared populations.
Man’s Impact
Despite being protected, Basking Sharks are still negatively affected by man’s activities. Basking Sharks commonly display scars from boat collisions,
propellers and net entanglement The Shark Trust is investigating the extent to
which Basking Sharks are being affected by these anthropogenic impacts and we are very keen to receive reports and pictures of these incidents, which you can submit through the Basking Shark website - www.baskingsharks.org.
It is also very important to record any incidents of Basking Shark strandings as it could provide us with vital clues about the shark’s biology or cause of death. If you come across a stranded Basking Shark then please report it to the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Project on -0207 449 6672.
To report any other unusual marine sightings, non-native species or sightings of marine mammals, turtles and jellyfish go to the Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN) website and fill in their online form - www.mariin.ac.uk
Basking Shark Code of Conduct
The following guidelines have been designed to help boat handlers and swimmers reduce the risk of
injuring or harassing Basking Sharks. |
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Dead Basking Shark washed up In Cornwall
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Basking Shark showing propellor iniury
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Boat control near Basking Sharks
Restrict your speed to below 6 knots and
avoid sudden speed changes.
When closer than 100 m switch the engine
to neutral to avoid injuring sharks.
Avoid disturbing dense groups of sharks
as you may disrupt courtship behaviour.
Be extremely cautious in areas where
Basking Sharks have been seen
breaching
Jet-skis should stay at least 5Om/
away from Basking Sharks.
Remember that for every shark visible
on the surface there are likely to be more
hidden just below.
Tips
Take time to observe the direction of movement of the Basking Sharks to anticipate their course — you can then position yourself for the best view.
Don’t forget to take pictures of the fins
for the photo-identification project. |
Swimming with Basking Sharks
Do not try to touch the sharks.
Maintain a distance of 4 m from each
shark and be wary of the tail.
Groups of swimmers should stay
and ideally remain at the surface.
Restrict the number of people in the
water at any one time.
Take plenty of pictures but avoid flash
photography which can scare the sharks.
Photograph any chardctristic
which may help re-identify the shark in
the future.
Do not use underwater propelled
devices.
Tips
Aim to anticipate the direction of movement of the sharks and enter the water 100 m ahead of the sharks. |
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Series of basking shark fins. |
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Under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countrys ide Act (1981) it is illegal to kill, injure or recklessly disturb Basking Sharks in British waters.
Any person committing such an offence could face up to 6 months in prison.
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