Basking Sharks To Return To Manx Waters This Month

May 5, 2009

Release from: Lottie Ray
Isle of Man Today (UK)

Basking sharks will begin to enter Manx waters again this month.

There were 564 sightings of up to 1,812 individual sharks off the Manx coast last year.

The Isle of Man is a hotspot for these enormous endangered sharks which are attracted to the high plankton concentrations that thrive in the warm waters of the gulf stream surrounding the Island.

'I am very excited about this year,' said Jackie. 'There are so many things going on.'

As well as continuing its research and tagging five more satellite tags to Manx sharks, the group will help host a global basking shark conference in August following four years of ground-breaking research.

Experts from all over the world are expected to attend a three-day scientific conference entitled Basking Sharks: A Global Perspective at the Erin Arts Centre.

Speakers have already been confirmed from New Zealand, Canada, USA, South Africa, Seychelles, France, Ireland and the UK.

Anyone interested in attending the conference or volunteering to help at it, should contact Dr Fiona Gell on 843109.

The Isle of Man's basking shark population has received worldwide attention since a shark, tagged in Manx waters in 2007, was found to have crossed the Atlantic.

It was previously believed basking sharks on this side of the Atlantic were a completely different group to those off the Americas.

It is estimated there are now only about 8,200 left worldwide.

Though it is illegal to intentionally kill, injure, capture, disturb or harass basking sharks in British waters, they do not enjoy such protection in other parts of the world.

'Our ultimate aim is to improve basking shark conservation management so that they are still off our beaches in 20 years time, not in a bowl of shark fin soup,' said Jackie.

Traditionally an East Asian delicacy, a bowl of basking shark fin soup is said to sell for $100 in the USA.

This year, the group hopes to film basking shark courtship using a homemade radio-controlled mini buoy fitted with video cameras so they are not disturbed. And French and Colombian shark scientists will visit the Island to attach satellite and radio tags to the sharks.

'I don't think this has been done before,' said Jackie. 'Watch this space. It's one thing following radio-tagged hedgehogs through the bushes, quite another following a shark as long as a bus across the ocean.'

This summer Manx Wildlife Trust also plans to record a documentary telling the story of basking sharks in Manx waters.

To sponsor a tag or any other equipment, call Duncan Bridges at the MWT on 801985. For more information, or to become a volunteer, contact Jackie or Graham on 833215 or email inter.tech@btinternet.com or call the basking shark phone line on 801345.

THE founder of the Manx Basking Shark Watch has been included in The Independent on Sunday Happy List 2009 – just before this year's shark season begins.

Manx Wildlife Trust voluntary marine officer Jackie Hall, of Port St Mary, joins comedian Peter Kay, actor Sir Ian McKellen, survival specialist Ray Mears, children's author Jacqueline Wilson, naturalist Sir David Attenborough and England football team manager Fabio Capello.

The list, introduced last year as an antidote to The Sunday Times' Rich List, celebrates 100 people who make Britain a better and a happier place to live.

The lists says: 'Jackie set up the Manx Basking Shark Watch in 2004, and her dedication has never wavered, even when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.'

On hearing the news, Jackie said: 'My first feeling was of complete surprise because I had no idea that I had been nominated.'

But she added: 'This quickly turned to delight and embarrassment. It's very important to realise that I am only on it as the representative of the many thousands of conservation volunteers who work for the wildlife trusts all over Britain.

'This really isn't about me, it's about the concept of giving your time and effort to help other people to understand and enjoy our amazing British wildlife.

'In the case of Manx Basking Shark Watch this is the basking shark, an iconic mega-beastie that we in the Isle of Man are lucky enough to have as a summer visitor. Who wouldn't feel happy that we can see these from our Manx shores every summer? No need to go for that exotic holiday, stay here and watch some of the best wildlife spectacles in the world.'

She emphasised MBSW was a Manx Wildlife Trust project.

Assistant editor of the Independent, David Randall, said: 'Quite a lot of the people on the rich lists just inherited their money – they are a celebration of wealth, acquisition and materialism. I thought wouldn't it be good to celebrate people who give back rather than take.'

He contacted a variety of organisations, including the Wildlife Trust which commended its chief executive and a volunteers' representative.

'They nominated Jackie Hall from the Isle of Man,' he said. 'The list is a celebration of people who make Britain a more caring and contented place and wildlife trust volunteers certainly do that. Jackie is there as a fine representative of those people and the work they do.'