This Basking Shark was spotted off Penlee Point, near Plymouth on the evening of May 25th – one of the first
to be spotted in Devon this Basker ‘season’!

The shark’s dorsal fin is clearly damaged – possibly the result of an encounter with a boat.  Paul – the photographer – also noted white scar tissue on the shark’s body.

With the damage to its fin, this Basking Shark is very distinctive.
With your help the Shark Trust may
be able to match it with other sightings – contributing to our understanding of these magnificent creatures.

It’s also a timely reminder for boat-users that the Basker’s will be out there for the next few months.  The Shark Trust’s Basking Shark Code of Conduct for boat users and swimmers promotes the safe interaction between human and shark – safe for both humans and sharks!  Contact the Shark Trust for your free copy, or
download here. 


SIGHTING UPDATE....

 5 June - Spotted by kayakers in Sennen Cove, Cornwall
"..I am pleased to report that I saw the individual today! I was on my kayak and managed to a get relatively close view obeying 'the code of conduct' obviously. The fin appears to be healing which is great but I didn't have my camera with me to prove it unfortunately. I was surprised to see the shark had travelled so far in 11 days!"

 7 June - Possible sighting in Sennen Cove, Cornwall
"...very distinctive with a particularly pale dorsal fin with what appeared to be a pale tip. Having seen the photo of the Shark with the damaged fin taken at Penlee, I can say that the one we saw was very similar in appearance although it was too far away for a photo. I can't say that it was exactly the same although we did have the impression that the fin was damaged as it seemed unusually triangular and the trailing edge seemed ragged. One slightly odd thing about our sighting yesterday was that this shark was interacting very closely with another for half an hour or more. Thanks to the unusual fin, we could see that it was following another shark at a distance of 1 - 2 meters and perhaps occasionally going side to side with it. At first, given the unusual fin, we had considered that the front shark had picked up some sort of debris as it looked as though they were towing each other and we hadn't worked out that it was a second shark. I have seen plenty of BS but have never seen such a close and long interaction."

   Click here for more information on Basking Shark Photo-ID.
   Click here for more information on the issues facing Basking Sharks.
   Check out the Shark Trusts Basking Shark Code of Conduct.