The Wildlife Trusts’ Basking Shark Project has extensively surveyed the west coast of the UK. Utilising an 11.7m sailing vessel, called ‘Forever Changes’ provided a fast and stable platform, capable of accommodating up to 8 volunteers and crew at a time. For the last 10 years, skipper Colin Speedie and a dedicated crew have sailed from Falmouth in Cornwall, surveying the south west of the UK, before travelling north to survey off the coast of Wales and Northern Ireland, before west Scotland, and the Firth of Clyde, finally reaching the Hebrides where they remained until the end of the season in September, when the research vessel returned south once more.

During this time hundreds of sharks have been encountered, some more than once, as each time photographs have been taken to permit individual identification – all of these have gone into a national database, helping us to further understand populations and movements of individual sharks. Additionally the research has presented important findings on habitat use, behaviour and climate change. Furthermore, the research has aided development of an adequate code of conduct for the species and the development of the WiSe scheme.

For more information on please visit http://baskingsharks.wildlifetrusts.org/

The Wildlife Trusts

The Kiln, Waterside

Mather Road

Newark

NG24 1WT