Warm Weather Brings Early Shark Sightings

[ONeill]

How long before Lough Neagh is infiltrated by humpback whales?


Four men on a mackerel fishing trip were "amazed" to see an early sighting of basking sharks within metres of their boat in Donegal Bay.

Local fisherman Brian Smith was returning to Killybegs harbour on Tuesday afternoon with his group when they noticed some unusual activity in the water.

Mr Smith told Sky News: "There were four of us out on the boat fishing in Donegal Bay, fishing for mackerel, when an 18ft (5.4m) basking shark appeared near the boat.

"We saw the fins coming up first and it was splashing about the surface. It just swam near the boat, metres away from us.

"We pulled out the cameras and started taking photos and filming it. It was an amazing sight to be so close to such an amazing creature.

"We saw about 20 basking sharks that day. I have never seen so many at this time of year.

"You don't usually see them until later in May time."

"On Monday, there were six basking sharks at Fintra beach, too - locals could see them from the shore. It was amazing," he said.

It is thought the sharks are being lured by plankton which has bloomed early because of the warm weather.

The gentle giant is the largest fish to be found in the coastal waters of the British Isles.

Measuring anything up to 39ft (12m) long, and weighing up to 7 tonnes, it feeds on animal plankton.

During the summer months, it favours Cornish, Devon, Manx, Irish and Scottish waters as its regular feeding grounds.

In the UK, the first official basking shark sighting for 2011 was recorded by scuba divers at Roskilly Beach, Newlyn, in Cornwall, on March 20, according to The Wildlife Trusts.

The Trust says reports of sightings usually start in May.

However, research has shown an observed shift in the distribution of sightings of basking sharks in recent years, which may also be due to the rising sea temperatures caused by climate change

[omagh_gael]

That fisherman is certainly basking in the glory of his sighting.

[never kickt a ball]

How long before Lough Neagh is infiltrated by humpback whales?


Four men on a mackerel fishing trip were "amazed" to see an early sighting of basking sharks within metres of their boat in Donegal Bay.

Local fisherman Brian Smith was returning to Killybegs harbour on Tuesday afternoon with his group when they noticed some unusual activity in the water.

Mr Smith told Sky News: "There were four of us out on the boat fishing in Donegal Bay, fishing for mackerel, when an 18ft (5.4m) basking shark appeared near the boat.

"We saw the fins coming up first and it was splashing about the surface. It just swam near the boat, metres away from us.

"We pulled out the cameras and started taking photos and filming it. It was an amazing sight to be so close to such an amazing creature.

"We saw about 20 basking sharks that day. I have never seen so many at this time of year.

"You don't usually see them until later in May time."

"On Monday, there were six basking sharks at Fintra beach, too - locals could see them from the shore. It was amazing," he said.

It is thought the sharks are being lured by plankton which has bloomed early because of the warm weather.

The gentle giant is the largest fish to be found in the coastal waters of the British Isles.

Measuring anything up to 39ft (12m) long, and weighing up to 7 tonnes, it feeds on animal plankton.

During the summer months, it favours Cornish, Devon, Manx, Irish and Scottish waters as its regular feeding grounds.

In the UK, the first official basking shark sighting for 2011 was recorded by scuba divers at Roskilly Beach, Newlyn, in Cornwall, on March 20, according to The Wildlife Trusts.

The Trust says reports of sightings usually start in May.

However, research has shown an observed shift in the distribution of sightings of basking sharks in recent years, which may also be due to the rising sea temperatures caused by climate change

Obviously they have good taste in music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X5_3eLbVyE

[GalwayBayBoy]

You don't usually see them until later in May time

Sure it'll be May in about a week. Hardly that extraordinary. Must have been a slow news day.

[Kerry Mike]

yerra we had 30 sharks in Kerry...


http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0422/shark.html

[ONeill]

[Kerry Mike]

The great Red and White Puke shark. Nearing extinction nowadays.

[ONeill]

There's a new breed.

[Kerry Mike]

ah the toothless Langer Shark, they never do any damage around Kerry

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

There's a new breed.

Ya but these new ones got ate alive when the ventured inland to Castlebar.