Why worry about basking sharks?
Because basking sharks swim at the surface, these magnificent fish are easily harmed, either deliberately or accidentally. Basking sharks were once fished commercially on a small scale around Scotland for their huge livers, which contain oils formerly used in various industries. The peak recorded kill was almost 250 sharks in 1947, but, in response to concerns over dwindling numbers, the basking shark has had full legal protection since 1998 under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004). Currently, potential threats include bycatch in fishing nets, and disturbance or impact by jet-skis, speedboats and other vessels. The Scottish Wildlife Watching Code provides best guidance for wildlife watching operators, and continued measures to raise awareness of the code and of the location of Scottish hotspots are invaluable in conservation of this extraordinary fish. There is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan for the basking shark, now taken fo
