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© J.Stafford-Deitfch/Marine Conservation Society |
The second largest fish in the world, it can grow to be as long as a London bus (11 metres), weighing up to 7 tonnes. Despite all this it feeds on plankton, made up of microscopic plants and animals living and drifting in the surface waters of the Ocean. In late Spring and Summer, in calm weather, usually in the early morning or late evening, they can sometimes be viewed inshore, particularly, off the west coast of the British Isles, swimming or ‘basking' with mouths agape on the water's surface. In order to take in enough food for their huge body mass they have to filter through their special gill rakers 1 – 2,000 cubic metres of water every hour – that the same amount that's in an olympic sized swimming pool! This method of feeding is highly productive for the shark and an adult's stomach can contain up to half a tonne of plankton! |
Sources of Info: Marine Conservation Society Web site: Seawatch Foundation website: |
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There is no need to fear a basking shark as, despite their huge gaping mouth, they have really tiny teeth and the opening at the back of their throat to their food pipe is very small.Despite their great size we still have a lot to learn about the lives, reproduction and migration patterns of Basking Sharks. For example, some people estimate their life span to be between 10 – 20 years and others suggest 40 -50 years or more! There has only ever been one record of a female incubating eggs - this confirmed that, like some other sharks, the young (up to 6 at a time) ‘hatch out' of the egg while still inside the female and are then born ‘live' and well developed. |
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Basking Sharks under threat These mysterious wanderers face exactly the same threats as dolphins, despite also being protected by law in UK waters, and being recognised as having ‘vulnerable' status worldwide. To find out more check out the Marine Conservation Society website. |
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The 200ft high cliff tops at Berry Head, Brixham are a good place to watch out for the tell tale tall dorsal fin and nose tip of the Basking Shark meandering along the surface in calm weather Please report your sightings to the Seashore Centre! - 01803 528841. |
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