An enormous shark has been spotted patrolling the waters just off the coast of the British Isles. Footage of the monstrous creature captures it cruising just beneath the surface near Peel on the Isle of Man.
One dramatic clip shows a huge dorsal fin slicing through the water, while another captures the giant shark heading directly towards sightseers aboard a boat.
Yet despite its terrifying appearance, the giant fish was in fact a harmless basking shark. Nicholas Lewis, of Casey J Fishing Trips, said: "It's been years since we've seen so many basking sharks. They were 25-foot long."
Gentle Giants
Basking sharks are the second-largest fish in the world, surpassed only by the whale shark. They are also one of only three shark species that feed on plankton, alongside the whale shark and the elusive megamouth shark.
The gentle giants are regularly seen swimming alone or in small groups as they slowly glide through coastal waters with their huge mouths open to filter-feed. Despite their enormous size and fearsome appearance, basking sharks pose no danger to humans.
Isle of Man Hotspot
Recent years have seen the Isle of Man become recognised as a global hotspot for basking sharks, with hundreds of sightings reported each year. It is believed that at least 90 individually recognised sharks reside in the waters, which appear to be a breeding ground for the gentle giants.
There is a relatively long history of basking shark research in the Isle of Man. In the 1980s and 1990s, The Basking Shark Project, run by Ken Watterson and supported by many local volunteers, carried out basking shark research and awareness-raising. The organisation helped to raise the global profile of basking sharks, and played an important role in influencing the government to include them on the protected species lists in the Isle of Man and the UK.
Size and Myths
Basking sharks typically measure around 25ft long, although some can grow as large as 40ft. The lumbering creatures can weigh up to six tonnes (6,000kg), and their huge mouths filter around 2,000 tonnes of seawater per hour.
Many tales of sea serpents and monsters are said to have originated from basking shark sightings. In one notable case, a basking shark carcass discovered by Japanese fisherman was initially thought to be the remains of a pre-historic plesiosaurus.
