Record numbers of Basking sharks seen off Cornwall.

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Wildlife watchers in west Cornwall have been privileged by the large numbers of Basking sharks sighted over the last month (June-July 2006) or so. Without a doubt one of the most exciting spectacles and gatherings of nature it’s still possible to see on this ever more denuded planet of ours. Curiously it is the complete opposite to last year, when comparatively few were seen in this area, but a big increase was noted off the West coast of Scotland instead.

One theory was that rising sea temperatures were affecting plankton blooms in Cornwall, sending the sharks North earlier, up to cooler waters. Last year the West of Cornwall did have a warm, early spring, and this year a cold, late one. Wild flowers and insects have been later than usual too, and so were the sharks, on the whole.

Oddly enough though, the first Basking shark of the year appeared off the Lizard as early as the 21st of January! Odd sightings continued around the county, usually in single figures, up until the 28th of May, when eight sharks were sighted around Kennack Sands. After that things really started to hot up along with the weather, with numbers rising steadily over the next three weeks, reaching a peak around the 23rd- 25th of June, with reports of up to a hundred animals at a time around the Land's End area, before dropping off over the next few days. It was then the turn of the sea to the East of the Lizard to yield up some large figures, with some areas seeing groups of up to forty sharks together.

All these Baskers around the coast brought large numbers of animals of a different kind out to observe them, with locals and visitors alike, talking and pointing excitedly, or just staring in awe and wonder at these fantastic creatures that have cruised the Earth's seas for millions of years.

The truth is, with so many sharks around and below as well, it's very hard to be sure just how many there were. At times there have been so many triangular fins criss-crossing each other in every direction it was almost impossible even to guess at numbers. What a sight! The largest shark has been an enormous 10 metre monster with a dorsal fin over a metre high!

There are various kinds of fisheries around our coasts, trawlers, set nets, crab and lobster pots, and with the sheer amount of these creates dangers for many large sea animals. Cornwall has the highest reported number of dead cetaceans washed up on it's beaches in Europe, mostly due to entanglements or as ‘by-catch'. Even the shark watching boats have occasionally been tangled up, so it's surprising that the sharks seldom do snag. However, unfortunately it does happen ,and so far this year at least one definite fatality has been caused by pot rope entanglement.

At the end of June, between Cadgwith and Kennack Sands on the Lizard, a shark became entangled. The animal was cut free the next day by local fishermen, but was already dead. Since then Cornwall Wildlife Trust have recorded two more dead Basking Sharks, one reported by the Coastguard, floating in St. Austell bay, the other stranded at Boat Cove, Perranuthnoe, near St. Michaels Mount.

On another unpleasant note, there have been various cases of Basking Shark and Bottlenose Dolphin harassment incidents already this year, with power boats attempting to herd the sharks into a bay on one occasion. Please see Shark Trust Code of Conduct.

How to see Basking sharks in Cornwall.

Wildlife Extra recommends you contact Elemental Tours if you want to see the Basking sharks. Elemental’s Atlantic Adventure’ sea trips are aboard a high-speed R.I.B. ‘Ocean Ranger,’ and last 2 hours (occasionally longer) covering at least 25 miles. It costs £30 for adults and £20 for children 5-15 years old. Departures are from Penzance harbour, and travel along the magnificent granite coastline around the Land's End peninsular, and out into the Atlantic Ocean. As well as Basking sharks, and depending on time of year, with the help of expert local guides, they hope to encounter a wide selection of seabirds, a range of cetacean species including porpoise, Bottlenose dolphins, Common dolphins, Minke, and sometimes even Fin whales, the second largest creature on the planet. Atlantic grey seals are resident all year round, Basking sharks and ocean sunfish also make a regular appearance from late spring to the end of summer.
All sightings are recorded and sent to Cornwall Wildlife trust, clients are encouraged to participate.
To Book, call 01736 811200 or click www.elementaltours.co.uk
As part of their ongoing commitment to ethical tourism, Elemental Tours, Penzance and West Cornwall’s first wildlife watching, eco-company on land and sea, are offering passengers the chance to help with marine conservation. Anyone mentioning the Shark Trust during July and August, or Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s “Marine Weeks” 5th.- 20th of August, and also the Sea Watch Foundation during “National Whale and Dolphin Watch week” 12th.- 20th of August when booking one of ELEMENTAL TOURS’s exciting “Atlantic Adventure” marine wildlife R.I.B. trips around the stunning Land’s End peninsular, will have a portion of their fare donated to the charity of their choice,
Apart from being fun-packed, the trips have a high educational content, and everyone is encouraged to help with spotting and recording wildlife, and to submit images for photo’ ID.
Species possible to be encountered include Bottlenose, Common, and Risso’s dolphins. Orca and Harbour Porpoise. Minke, Fin and Pilot Whale, Atlantic Grey Seals.
Basking Sharks, sometimes in large numbers. Occasional Thresher, Porbeagle, Shortfin Mako.
Ocean Sunfish are also becoming regular visitors to our shores, as are Leatherback Turtles.
ELEMENTAL TOURS have strong links with various wildlife charities, to whom they regularly send sightings records to, and raise funds for.
ELEMENTAL TOURS are WiSe accredited, Wildlife-safe operators, and were one of the first companies in Britain to join the scheme in 2003. They are also founder members and ambassadors for CoaST, the Cornwall sustainable tourism project.
Departures from Penzance Harbour twice daily, 2 hours duration.
For bookings contact: Rory Goodall on 01736 811200 / 07971 540280.

Basking shark off the coast of Cornwall. © Elemental Tours/Rufus.

Strandings in Cornwall.

The Cornwall Wildlife Trust are the official recorders of dead stranded marine animals in Cornwall. If you find a dead marine animal in Cornwall please call the C.W.T. Strandings Hotline on 0845 2012626.
For live strandings call British Divers Marine Life Rescue, in association with theRSPCA on 01825 765546.

In this section

Safari of the week

Record numbers of Basking sharks seen off Cornwall.

How to see Basking sharks in Cornwall.

Strandings in Cornwall.