Background

The basking shark, the world’s second largest shark, is like the whale shark a planktivore, but confined to temperate waters. It has long been exploited in the Atlantic for its liver oil, and more recently has largely disappeared from the Pacific, as a result of the Asian demand for shark fin. More recently the work of the SOSF signature project led by Dr. Mauvis Gore has both provided additional insights into this charismatic species and collected data suggesting that in the UK, following protection, numbers may perhaps be recovering. The SOSF sponsored the 2009 Basking Shark Conference concluded that the best to monitor numbers would be to implement a photo-identification scheme that can generate population estimates through mark-recapture modelling. Consequently in April 2010 a community photo-ID project was launched involving four separate research teams – based respectively in Scotland, the Isle of Man, England and Ireland – and a joint database established at the Shark Trust in Plymouth.  Currently work is underway to catalogue the sharks sighted and check for matches with those photographed in previous years. In addition teams have been collecting tissue samples from which an independent assessment of population structure and size can be derived. This application is for funding to enable both types of work to be continued into a second essential year. The Shark Trust will establish a sophisticated SOSF badged website as a portal through which research teams and other parties can both upload photographs and review the existing catalogue. In addition since it is key to maintain public support for basking shark protection it is proposed to open an SOSF-supported Shark Education Centre at Breachacha Castle on the Isle of Coll, adjacent to probably the most important basking shark aggregation site in the UK.

Aims and Objectives

The aims of the project (as described in the original application) are:

• To derive reliable estimates of population levels and trends for basking sharks in NW Europe, through boat-based surveys and photography for identification purposes, collection of tissue samples for DNA analyses.
• to promote public awareness of basking sharks as a means of securing their protection and conservation through an environment exhibition at Breachacha Castle (Isle of Coll).