Unfortunately for the basking shark it has long been a fishery target as its one-ton liver is exceedingly rich in commercially valuable oils, and its enormous fins are used in Chinese sharks'-fin soup.
Basking sharks and whales have always been hunted by humans who value the oil and other commodities they provide. The historic cottage industry in shark fishing used the liver oil for lighting and in the tanning process. The meat was used for food and the rough skin for shark skin leather.
It may not be clear to you how this can make a difference to this magnificent but vulnerable animal but read this section of our website and it will be clearer.
