Basking Sharks 'Fly' Off Malin Head

June 5, 2009

Release from: Derry Journal (Ireland)

Imagine a fish that is larger than a double decker bus and weighs more than an African elephant. Now imagine you saw it fly!

That's precisely what the Irish basking shark project tagging team captured on camera off Malin head this week.

While most of us were relaxing in the glorious sunshine over the past few days, an Inishowen-led Irish shark tagging team have been out searching the coastline for the largest fish in the Atlantic Ocean - the Basking Shark. Weighing in at more than nine tons and growing up to 12 metres in length, these sharks are hard to miss.

The shark team is currently conducting a spear tagging research project on these gentile giants of the sea and it was late on Monday night when they witnessed something special: a full breach by a basking shark - not once but five times and all less than a mile off Malin Head.

The Irish Basking Shark Project, founded by Dr Simon Berrow, of the Irish Wale and Dolphin Group, and local wildlife ranger for Inishowen, Emmett Johnston, gained grant aid from the Heritage Council for the tagging project. They are concentrating on the waters around Malin Head because it has become a world renowned hot spot for these elusive creatures.

In recent years, RTE and BBC film crews have been guided by Ranger Johnston off Malin Head to film basking sharks; but nothing like this has ever been recorded in Irish or international waters before.

As the team successfully tagged 50 basking sharks - a world first in itself - they witnessed unbelievable activities by the sharks, including possible courtship between the larger sharks.

Emmett Johnston said: "Very little is known about basking sharks and we know nothing about where the sharks go or come from when they are out of Inishowen waters. This year's basking shark survey of Inishowen waters and the spear-tagging project is hoping to answer some of the puzzles that have eluded marine biologists for centuries."

Rangers Johnston says he has received fantastic support from the local fishing community and wants like to thank them all for reporting their sightings to him.

"Without the support of Inishowen's coastal communities, this project would never have happened."

He's also encouraging anyone who sees a shark to report it to him as soon as possible by phone or email. The team is looking to deploy 100 visual tags this year and two satellite tags towards the end of the summer to track the winter movements of the sharks.

If you would like to report a sighting, log onto www.baskingshark.ie or phone Emmett Johnston on 087 286 7055.