Marine and Wildlife Welfare

Wild Basking Shark UK Marine Welfare

Basking sharks are the UK's largest fish and face welfare challenges from boat collisions, gear entanglement and historical hunting.

Key Facts

Basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world reaching up to 12 metres length
They were historically hunted off the west coast of Scotland causing significant population depletion
Boat strikes are a significant welfare concern during surface feeding aggregations
Basking sharks are now fully protected under UK and EU law
Research tagging programmes track migration routes and population status

Welfare Considerations

Basking shark welfare has improved significantly following legal protection from hunting. Ongoing welfare challenges include boat strike and entanglement during coastal feeding aggregations. Responsible boating practices around basking sharks prevent welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Maintain the 100m exclusion zone when boating near basking sharks
Report basking shark sightings to the Shark Trust and Wildlife Watch citizen science programmes
Support campaigns for protected marine areas covering key basking shark aggregation sites