Wildlife Group In Bid To Protect Basking Sharks: Push To Include Northern Ireland In Global Treaty

September 28, 2004

Release from: Ciaran O'Neill
Belfast Telegraph

Endangered sharks are being spotted more and more around the coast of Northern Ireland, wildlife campaigners revealed today.

A significant number of basking sharks, an internationally recognised endangered species, have been seen in local waters in recent years, particularly off the North West coast.

However, there were fears today that a current loophole in the protection laws could lead to many of them being killed.

The fins from a basking shark, which are a delicacy in the Far East, can be sold for up to £10,000.

At present, basking sharks are protected in the waters around England, Scotland and Wales under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

However, no such protection exists in Northern Ireland, although the Department of Environment today said it was currently taking part in the second of two surveys launched in a bid to find out how many of the sharks visit local waters.

A DoE spokesman added that he believed a change in the legislation surrounding the protection of basking sharks would be implemented when the surveys were completed.

Kate Hutchinson, Irish Seas Policy Officer for a joint marine project linking the Ulster Wildlife Trust and the World Wildlife Fund, said it was vital that more protection was given to the animals.

"It seems wrong at the minute that basking sharks are protected off the waters of Britain, but not off the coast of Northern Ireland," she said.

"Sightings of these animals are becoming more and more common in local waters, particularly in areas around Rathlin Island and Donegal.

"However, one of the biggest dangers to their survival is hunting.

"If the protection laws are extended to Northern Ireland, it could play an important role in ensuring that these endangered sharks are allowed to survive."

Ms Hutchinson also called for the creation of a marine wildlife code of conduct in the province to increase the protection afforded to marine animals.

The basking shark is the largest fish to be found in the coastal waters of the British Isles.

Measuring anything up to 12 metres long, and weighing up to seven tonnes, it feeds on animal plankton, filtering 1,000 to 2,000 cubic metres of seawater per hour to extract its tiny prey.

During the summer months, it favours Cornish, Devon, Manx, Irish and Scottish waters.