Wildlife

Basking Shark Welfare and Conservation in UK Waters

Welfare overview for basking sharks — gentle giants that aggregate in UK coastal waters during summer.

Key Facts

Basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world — reaching 12 metres in length
They feed entirely on zooplankton by filter-feeding at the surface — a passive, slow behaviour
UK coastal waters — particularly the Hebrides, Cornwall and Isle of Man — are important basking shark aggregation areas
Boat traffic disturbance causes sharks to dive and lose access to surface zooplankton patches
Entanglement in fishing gear — particularly static gear such as lobster pots — causes severe welfare harm and death
Basking sharks were hunted commercially in the 20th century — populations are still recovering
They are protected in UK waters under the Wildlife and Countryside Act
Biopsy sampling for population research causes minor but measurable distress

Welfare Significance

Basking shark welfare is primarily threatened by boat disturbance and entanglement in fishing gear. These slow-moving, non-aggressive animals are highly sensitive to vessel approach and disruption of their surface feeding. Promoting responsible wildlife watching guidelines and reducing entanglement risk through gear modification protects individual shark welfare while supporting population recovery.

What You Can Do

Keep at least 100 metres from basking sharks when boating — more if the shark is showing signs of distress
Report basking shark entanglement in fishing gear to the Marine Conservation Society
Use approved wildlife watching guidelines when seeking to observe basking sharks
Advocate for ghost gear removal and entanglement-reducing fishing gear design