Great white sharks are already swimming in British waters, and more could be on the way, according to marine biologist and TV presenter Tom 'The Blowfish' Hird.
Hird, who fronts the Netflix series All The Sharks, believes there could be one or two of the fearsome predators lurking around the UK and Ireland at any given time. He says it is only a matter of time before photographic evidence emerges.
Expert: Sharks use UK as a 'quick stop'
Hird explained that great white sharks have the biology and ability to easily enter UK coastal waters, swim around, and leave without being seen. He described the UK as 'nothing more than a quick stop at a cafe or service station' for a great white.
He added that during late summer and the breeding season for grey seals, there are likely at least one or two great whites around the British Isles and Ireland. He noted that climate change could shift prey distribution, forcing predators to adapt and move with temperatures.
No increase in incidents expected
His comments follow a blue shark biting a man off Ireland last week. However, Hird does not believe shark incidents will become more common around Britain, stating that very few people get close to large native shark species, and 99.9% of shark-human interactions resolve without problems.
Warming seas could bring bull sharks
Hird said he would welcome a confirmed great white sighting, as it could aid protection and understanding. But he warned that regular sightings could indicate failing ocean ecosystems. He added that bull or tiger sharks would require dramatically warmer seas to reach the UK, and in a warmed post-human world, a bull shark could potentially swim up the Thames.
