A plankton-eating basking shark.[/caption]
The DOE Marine Division team has recovered the carcass of a young Basking Shark from the shore near Millisle.
On Wednesday 24 September, Department of Environment, Marine Division responded to a report of a very young Basking Shark stranded near Millisle, Co. Down.
With the assistance of a local resident who had seen the animal alive on the shore the previous night, staff located the carcass among rocks as the tide dropped. The carcass was almost nine feet long (263cm) and weighed 34kg (over 5 stone).
The dead shark was submitted to Agri-Food Biosciences Institute (AFBI, Veterinary Science Division, for post mortem investigation and although all of the test results are not yet available, the initial analysis indicates that the shark pup was malnourished and underweight. Otherwise there were no signs of abnormality to indicate the cause of death.
Stephen Foster, DOE Marine Division Species Advisor, said : “An adult Basking Shark is one of nature’s gentle giants. Although they are the second largest fish in the sea they are docile plankton-feeders who spend the spring and summer swimming near the surface in our coastal waters filtering enormous quantities of water to abstract the tiny animals that form their food.
“The recovery of the body of a very young Basking Shark is an unusual event and although it is sad to note the demise of such a fine animal, the recovery of the carcass will allow DOE and collaborating researchers a rare opportunity to study such a young specimen.
“Historically the Basking Shark was heavily fished and numbers declined so dramatically that it became classified as Endangered in the Northeast Atlantic. In Northern Ireland waters it is protected under the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985 and, as such, it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb, injure, capture or kill this animal.
“If you have the good fortune to encounter one of these superb creatures please keep at a respectful distance and operate watercraft in a careful manner.”
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