Shark Sighting / Incident report form

This form is aimed at reporting sightings of sharks around the British Isles / Temperate countries where sharks are not normally seen. It is also for reporting unusual encounters anywhere or incidents / Attacks. It is not official, however I hope to be able to compile pages with this info in for others to read and learn, I also hope to collect some data here which someone else might find useful. By submitting you are automatically giving your permission to reprint your submission. If you don't wish it reprinted e.g. on this page so people can read it, indicate in the text.

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Reports



United Kingdom


Basking Shark - Plymouth


Sighting of big basking shark (biggest fish I've ever seen anyway!) off
Salcombe south-Devon 25 July 1995. Local sailors say that there are often
a couple there during the summer (they were there in 1993 too when I was last
sailing by). Fishermen in Plymouth say quite a few can be seen approx 3 miles
east of breakwater (next to some big stone/island (maybe mewstone?)). The
basking shark came within about 4m of the boat and then hastily veered away so
the pictures aren't too good.

Info Supplied By -  elliott@hannover.Geco-Prakla.slb.com
(Jules)



Shark Encounter off Isle of Wight AUG/Sept 95


A recent article in diver magazine reported a shark sighting in the English 
channel 6 miles off the Ilse of Wight. The report states that a wreck diver 
George Hayward of RAF Odiham BSAC was diving with his buddy Trevor Jones on the 
wreck of the SS Westville about 6 miles off the Ilse of Wight in 40m of water. 
Descending the line head first he received quite a shock when at around 20m 
"this shark of about 2m brushed against my mask as it went by, I was startled as 
it passed right against my nose!".

	The men continued their dive despite the shock, Trevor who was buddying 
George quoted "the funniest thing was that when George first saw the shark he 
clung on to the shot line and pulled his arms and legs in very tight!. The 
wrecks out there are covered with Pollack and mackeral and that attracts sharks. 
We reckon it was a porbeagle."

	A shark encounter underwater in the UK is a rare and lucky one, the 
large sharks that can be found in UK waters include Blues, Makos, Porbeagles, 
Threshers, Basking Sharks and occasionally hammerheads. This year has been the 
warmest on record since records began in the 1600s leading to many sightings of 
unusual visitors including Loggerhead turtles and sunfish. 




Plymouth Nr. Breakwater


Plymouth Harbour - West side on approaches to RN dockyard, between Drake's 
Island and Woolpack battery, Unknown Date around 1990. Whilst in the sea cadets 
I was on board a RN tender, we had gone out for the day, on our way back into 
RN dockyard I was on the Port Bridgewing watching the sea slide past slowly with a 
friend. I spotted a bouy drifting loose, next to it was a seagull, which then 
drew my attention to a shark lying in the water that seemed to be stalking the 
seagull. The shark was heavy set and between 1.5m to 2m in length (about man 
sized) and in retrospect was a Porbeagle. 

	At this time I had not learnt to dive, I shouted for the others to look, 
several saw it,I suggested we radio it in to the coastguard as a hazard to 
divers. This done I wondered for years until I started diving why we saw three 
dive boats zooming towards the reporte position instead of away. ;-)





UK - Summer 1995 Visitors


	Due to the exceptionally warm summer in 95 there were a lot of sightings including :

	Hammerhead of West Wales

From (Dive International Magazine)
	Sail Fin Rough Shark (I believe the first spotted ever in UK)
	Apparently now on display in Haltemprice Fisheries, Swanland ???
	1m long
	1000lb 16ft Big eye thresher Shark
	Hammerheads of Cornish Coast

Not sharks but still -

	Marlin. leatherback turtles and sunfish in North Sea !!!
	Sailfin Dory off Cornwall
	Tropical marbled Electric Ray (Shark Relative)
	Sea Horses in Devonport Dockyard





EUROPE


USA


ELSEWHERE

Please send me any interesting reports, observations etc.

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