A colossal shark, believed to measure approximately 35 feet in length, has been filmed off the coast of Northern Ireland, leaving a family on a charter boat utterly astonished. The impressive marine creature was seen vigorously thrashing its tail in the waters near Arranmore Island, situated off the western coast of County Donegal, Ireland.
Despite its intimidating appearance, the animal is a harmless basking shark. These so-called 'gentle giants' pose no danger to humans. The basking shark ranks as the second-largest fish globally, exceeded only by the whale shark, with the largest recorded specimen reaching just over 40 feet in length.
Skipper John Paul Baska of Northwest Charters was piloting a family excursion when the shark surfaced alongside the vessel. He remarked: 'It was enormous, possibly 35 feet long. I've encountered larger ones before, but the family of five on board were thoroughly impressed. There was an abundance of plankton for the sharks to feed on, and the fishing was excellent as well.'
Basking sharks are known for their leisurely swimming near the surface, with mouths agape, filtering tiny food particles such as plankton from the water. This species has long inhabited the waters surrounding Britain and Ireland, as their traditional range encompasses the northeast Atlantic. During the 20th century, they were heavily hunted for their meat and the oil extracted from their livers.
According to Visit Carndonagh, the earliest documented record of basking shark fishery originates from County Donegal and dates back to 1746. Basking sharks were hunted off the Donegal coast until 2006, the tourist office notes.
Today, the species is classified as endangered in the North Atlantic by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In the United Kingdom, basking sharks receive protection under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000, the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, and the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. These legislative measures render it illegal to intentionally kill, injure, or harass basking sharks in British waters, with offenders facing up to six months' imprisonment and substantial fines.
