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Baskers turn up early
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Basking sharks have appeared earlier than usual off the country's South Coast - perhaps as a portent of a hot summer to come.
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The Marine Conservation Society says that three basking sharks, the first sightings of 2007, were spotted in Cardigan Bay off West Wales, off Douglas in the Isle of Man and off Falmouth in Cornwall, between 22 March and 7 April.
The MCS expected basking shark numbers off British shores to 'increase dramatically' over the next few months. The animal - the world's second-largest fish after the whale shark - is drawn in by swathes of plankton, which bloom at the sea's surface particularly strongly in warm years.
The MCS runs a scheme, Basking Shark Watch, that asks the public to log sightings of the creature. Divers and boaters get up rather closer than most, so get in touch with the MCS if you are fortunate enough to have a close encounter. Sightings can be reported online at the MCS website.
On a sadder note, a number of basking sharks get entangled accidentally in fishing nets each year. Some are spotted and released in time, while others perish.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust is conducting research on the matter, and asks that divers report any such incidents to its Cornwall Marine Strandings line 0845 2012626.
Like the MCS, the Trust also welcomes news of general sightings for the sake of its regional database and associated research into basking shark populations and behaviour. Sightings can be posted online.
Photo: Colin Speedie
Related links
MCS
Cornwall Wildlife Trust
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