Sailors are being encouraged to report any basking shark sightings to The Shark Trust this summer.
Between May and October, these endangered fish return to British waters to feed on plankton.
Monitoring, management, and further research into the basking shark population is vital to ensure their survival.
Currently, basking sharks are one of the most heavily protected species in UK and EU waters, and are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Basking sharks grow slowly and are late to mature so produce few young, making them vulnerable; it takes a long time for populations to recover.
The managing director of the Shark Trust, Paul Cox said that while targeted and well-funded scientific research was needed to fully understand the status and potential recovery of basking sharks, everyone can play their part by reporting sightings.
It’s also illegal to intentionally disturb or harass them in UK waters.
If you witness disturbance or harassment of a basking shark, please report it to the National Wildlife Crime Unit immediately.
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