Basking Shark Sightings 2005-2021 Vastly Reduced
Manx water have seen very few basking shark sightings reported over the last few years. We are not sure why this is happening. It could be due to natural variation, climate change or something that humans have done. Please report every sighting to us to ensure that we get the full picture of what is happening.
Manx Whale & Dolphin Watch: Volunteers Required
*SEEKING LOCAL VOLUNTEERS FOR SUMMER PLACEMENTS*
Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch are looking for local volunteers to undertake full or part-time placements with us during our field season May-September 2022. This position would suit a student or graduate returning to the island for the summer. This is a non-residential placement so you will need to have a base on the island. You may be studying for a relevant degree and looking to get your foot in the door by way of volunteering for the summer.
Your time with us will be split between 2 main areas: research and ...
Manx Basking Shark Season Starts on Time!
It's that time again, 15th May always was the date when basking sharks first showed their fins in Manx waters and they were spotted on time this year.
Please keep your eyes on the water and report your shark sightings on our 'report your sighting section.
Here's the 2021 record to date. There appear to be at least 2 sharks around and Port Erin/Bradda Head seems like a good place to keep a look out. See our Facebook page and https://www.manxbaskingsharkwatch.org/sightings-analysis/?date_from=01%2F01%2F2021&date_to=21%2F05%2F2021
Stranded basking shark has to be put down.
Oh dear!
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-53523673
Basking Shark Code of Conduct
For safety and to observe the law please always observe this code when you're near basking sharks. https://www.sharktrust.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=636dc5fd-29f3-4d8d-a97a-2c47a9ab28c0
Shark off Port St Mary Ledges Now!
https://www.manxbaskingsharkwatch.org/sightings-analysis/?date_from=20%2F07%2F2020&date_to=20%2F07%2F2020
WHERE ARE OUR SUMMER BASKING SHARKS:DISCUSS!
You may have noticed that it's half way through the Manx basking shark season and that there are NO SHARKS!
Shark sightings in 2018 and 2019 were very low but this year is the worst since Manx Basking Shark Watch started researching basking sharks in 2005.
We would normally expect to have lots of basking sharks sighings from the end of May until the beginning of August. We have had FOUR, yes 4 reported sightings this season.
There are many reasons why this could be. Here are a few ideas for everyone to think about and discuss on the Manx Basking Shark Watch ...
BASKING SHARKS: LOVE AND FAMILY.
This first epidose of 'Making Waves' from Rowan Henthorn and Arron Ibenes touches on love in the oceans. There's quite a bit about a new scientific paper about basking shark DNA and what it reveals about basking shark family relationships.
Read the scientific paper they're talking about here-https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-58086-4.epdf?author_access_token=QHAahBLolYR__irGgdoYXtRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0MiQAx7ZB7bvuGSF-KS7xeNiJx4BroHAzv9YqMYU0DFHANTKzy2aPHIZ26rsn9eR04CwSf3L7d2tk3ohwWU7WS5lmU6RqFCoOy0tejaCSVQLA%3D%3D
Hear the radio podcast here https://www.manx...
BASKING SHARKS UPGRADED ON IUCN RED LIST FROM VULNERABLE TO ENDANGERED IN NORTH EAST ATLANTIC:
This sad news doesn't come as a surprise to those of us who study these amazing creatures. We have seen very, very few basking sharks in Manx waters over the last 3 summers. This may be because-
1: They are accidentally caught in fishing nets.2: The sea has warmed so much that their preferred food species are thriving further North. 3: Sharks don't like any electrical signals and we have huge electricity cables in the Irish Sea. 4: The sharks are faced with huge arrays of wind farms in the Irish Sea.
https://www.facebook.com/…/pcb.319779536…/3197...
