Wildlife

Basking Shark Welfare and Bycatch Risk

Basking sharks are the world's second largest fish and visit UK coastal waters seasonally, facing welfare risks from vessel strikes, entanglement in fishing gear and harassment by water users.

Key Facts

Basking sharks can reach 12m in length and weigh up to 7 tonnes
They are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in UK waters
Basking sharks feed by swimming with their mouth open filtering zooplankton at the surface
Boat strikes and propeller injuries are documented causes of injury and mortality

Welfare Considerations

Basking shark welfare in UK coastal waters is affected by vessel traffic, incidental entanglement in static fishing gear and direct harassment from boats and water users. Injuries from propellers cause severe wounds that may or may not be fatal. Legal protection prohibits intentional disturbance but enforcement at sea is difficult.

What You Can Do

Maintain at least 100m distance from basking sharks if on the water
Slow to minimum steerage speed when sharks are in the vicinity to reduce strike risk
Report basking shark sightings to the Shark Trust to contribute to monitoring
Support campaigns for protective zones in key aggregation areas for basking sharks