Wild Basking Shark Welfare and Conservation

Basking sharks are the world's second-largest fish - they face significant welfare threats from boat strikes and historic overfishing.

Key Facts

Basking sharks are filter feeders reaching up to 12m in length
UK waters are important summer feeding grounds with hotspots around the Isle of Man and west coast of Scotland
They were subject to intensive harpoon fishing in the 20th century severely depleting populations
They are now fully protected in UK waters under the Wildlife and Countryside Act
Boat strikes are a welfare concern as sharks feeding at the surface are vulnerable
Climate change is affecting plankton availability and distribution in UK waters

Welfare Considerations

Basking shark welfare in UK waters is supported by strong legal protection from direct take. Remaining welfare concerns centre on boat strikes in areas of high boat traffic and plankton availability changes. Speed restrictions and approach guidelines in known aggregation areas would reduce strike risk substantially.

What You Can Do

Maintain legal minimum distances from basking sharks - 100m sideways, 50m ahead
Reduce boat speed in areas with basking shark activity
Report basking shark sightings to the Marine Conservation Society basking shark watch
Support the Shark Trust basking shark research and protection campaigns
Advocate for speed restrictions in key basking shark aggregation areas