Basking Shark Welfare: Gentle Giants Under Pressure

Basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world and visit UK waters each summer. Their welfare is affected by boat disturbance, net entanglement, and historical population impacts from harpoon fishing.

Key Facts

Basking sharks can reach 12 meters in length and feed by filter-feeding with their mouths open near the surface
UK basking shark populations were severely reduced by harpoon fishing in the 20th century for their liver oil
They are now legally protected in UK waters and listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List
Boat strikes and entanglement in fishing gear cause injuries and death in basking sharks
The Basking Shark Society monitors populations and reports disturbance events in Scottish and Cornish waters

Welfare Considerations

Basking shark welfare is affected by their surface-feeding behavior making them vulnerable to boat strikes and disturbance. Sharks approached closely by wildlife tourism boats change their feeding behavior and may dive to avoid vessels, losing feeding opportunities during their brief summer season in UK waters. They are long-lived, slow-reproducing animals making individual losses significant for population recovery. Disturbance from well-intentioned wildlife watching, when too close or too frequent, causes welfare harm that undermines the conservation value of ecotourism.

What You Can Do

Maintain at least 100 meters distance from basking sharks in boats and at least 4 meters for swimmers
Follow the Basking Shark Society guidelines for responsible shark watching
Report close approaches or disturbance of basking sharks to the SSPCA or relevant authority
Support Basking Shark Scotland research and monitoring programs
Advocate for marine protected areas in known basking shark aggregation sites during summer months