Reaching lengths of up to twelve metres, Basking Sharks are the largest fish in British waters.  One of only three plankton-feeding shark species, these harmless giants reappear in our coastal waters each summer.

Their size doesn’t safeguard Basking Sharks from human impacts - although the last commercial fishery in UK waters closed in the mid-1990s, Basking Sharks are still regularly injured and killed by boat strikes and entanglement in ropes and nets.  In the Northeast Atlantic the species is listed as Endangered by the IUCN.

Don't forget to contact the Shark Trust if you see a Basking Shark - your sightings are crucial in helping understand and protect these magnificent animals!.