UK Basking Shark Hotspots - Urgent Protection Needed

December 3, 2008

Release from: WildlifeExtra.com

Basking sharks are still under threat in UK waters, despite being an internationally recognised endangered species with legal protection. This is the conclusion of two new reports by The Wildlife Trusts and Natural England, which highlight the potential benefits of marine-protected areas for conserving mobile animals.

The two reports - launched in Plymouth on Friday 5 December - are the culmination of more than eight years' boat-based study of the UK's largest fish. The reports identify basking shark hotspots - places where sharks congregate at the surface - revealing a remarkable change in shark distribution over the study period with a marked decline in sightings in the south west of England.

To date it has been difficult to identify practical measures to address these threats and ensure the survival and recovery of basking sharks in UK seas. However, the conclusion is now clear: appropriate protection of basking shark hotspots may be critical to the survival of this threatened animal.

Marine Bill

The Marine Bill is due to introduce Marine Conservation Zones, a new type of marine protected area. The potential for Marine Conservation Zones to contribute to basking shark conservation should be explored as a matter of urgency, say The Wildlife Trusts.

Colin Speedie, the skipper and project leader, said: "We need to see Marine Conservation Zones set up to help rebuild healthy seas in order that UK waters can truly support the marine life once common off our shores. Though the basking shark is now protected from hunting, less obvious threats still remain. These giants are regularly killed in nets and, as leisure boating increases, there are more collisions with vessels in some of the busier areas off UK coasts."

Gentle giant

Roger Covey, Senior Marine Specialist for Natural England, said "Despite its huge size and gaping mouth, this seasonal visitor to our coastal waters, is a gentle giant. Whilst basking sharks can eventually grow up to the length of a double-decker bus, their numbers have declined - we must reverse this trend if we are to protect these majestic creatures.

"Results of the study suggests that establishing site specific protection measures for the species should now be considered - particularly in key sites like The Lizard peninsula and the Land's End peninsula where higher levels of surface sightings are recorded and breeding populations regularly frequent."

95% decline in Basking shark numbers

It is estimated the basking shark population in the north-east Atlantic has declined by more than 95% from historic levels. In the past, the major threat was hunting, and more than 80,000 basking sharks were killed in the north-east Atlantic. Now, with the fishery closed, the key threats arise from collisions with boats and entanglement in fishing gear.

Between 1999 - 2007, The Wildlife Trusts' basking shark survey counted, observed and photographed sharks off the UK's western coasts. Volunteer crews were recruited from the membership of The Wildlife Trusts and Earthwatch Institute (Europe) to help with the surveys. All volunteers received full training in all aspects of appropriate survey technique, from observation procedures to data gathering and recording.

Hotspots

The survey revealed basking shark hotspots off the southwest of England, Northern Ireland, The Isle of Man and Scotland where they gather for feeding and courtship.

Basking sharks

Basking sharks are slow-growing, late to reach sexual maturity at 12-20 years - and produce few young - bearing five or six pups for a gestation of one to three years. This makes them extremely vulnerable to over-exploitation. Even when threats are removed, numbers take a very long time to recover.

To download the ‘basking shark hotspots in the UK' report, available on Friday 5 December, visit www.wildlifetrusts.org