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Basking Sharks Moving North

 
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Behemoth



Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds
PostPosted: Fri Jun 17, 05 8:56 am    Post subject: Basking Sharks Moving North Reply with quote
    

Britain's biggest fish appears to be moving to Scottish waters - and experts say it may be down to global warming.
Sightings of basking sharks are up 65% off the Scottish coast since 2001, but down 66% in south-west England, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) said.
It has studied the sharks for 17 years, relying on sightings from the public.

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4096504.stm

Haddock



Joined: 24 Apr 2005
Posts: 81
Location: Marburg, Germany
PostPosted: Fri Jun 17, 05 1:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Certainly from my time of diving in British waters, the average sea temp was increasing each year, and/or becoming warmer earlier or for longer. So I guess the plankton are going further north, and the sharks are following. I snorkeled once with a Basking Shark off Cornwall. A most impressive creature.

sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Fri Jun 17, 05 6:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Didn't Gavin Maxwell (the ring of bright water bloke) try to run a commercial basking shark fishery in Scotland sometime in the mid twentieth century?

Viking_Chick



Joined: 21 May 2005
Posts: 123

PostPosted: Sat Jun 18, 05 8:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thats interesting - here in Shetland there was a huge issue with sandeels moving north, so seabirds were not nesting as they did not have enough food. This year there *seems* to be more seabird activity on the nesting front so far and also more sightings of basking sharks. I wonder if this increase in warmer water plankton has also provided the seabirds with more food (sandeels or other)?

Simon S



Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 38
Location: Mid Beds
PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 05 9:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Quote:
sean Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 6:59 pm Post subject:

Didn't Gavin Maxwell (the ring of bright water bloke) try to run a commercial basking shark fishery in Scotland sometime in the mid twentieth century?


That's right, the Isle of Soay Shark Fishery, check out his book "Harpoon at a Venture" for the full story

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