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The 2008 basking shark season is almost upon us, with the first sightings
anticipated any day soon. Last year there were isolated animals
spotted in March and early April, with the real influx of these annual
visitors starting in May, peaking in June and July.
The wonderful clear weather and flat seas of last Sunday (April 27th)
resulted in plenty of cetaceans being spotted around our shores, but sadly no
sharks - clearly the plankton levels have not yet built up sufficiently for
them.
Tagging in 2008
Thanks to wonderful support from our sponsors (see panel left), we have secured
sufficient funding to purchase 5 satellite tags for shark tagging research
this season. This is tremendous news and will allow us to build on
the success of last years initial work with these extremely clever
devices. The tags are currently on order with the manufacturers in
America, and we hope to take delivery in the third week of May.
We have just recorded a piece for the new 'Man in the Wild' series to
be broadcast on Manx Radio. Tune in to hear Jackie, Duncan and Graham
talking about this seasons work.
We hope you find the changes to the website useful and easy to navigate.
Regular updates will be posted from now on throughout the season.
Welcome to the Manx Wildlife Trust's Manx Basking Shark Watch web page.
We are working in collaboration with the Marine Conservation Society Basking
Shark Watch. The Isle of Man is a basking shark 'hotspot', having
particularly high densities of basking sharks compared to elsewhere in the
British Isles. We would like YOU to help us find out how many basking sharks
visit the Isle of Man every year, and to help us study what they are doing
whilst they're here!
 This is a
truly MANX basking shark site. It contains the latest Isle of Man basking shark
sightings, a section about how to find basking sharks off the Isle of Man and
another for your own Isle of Man Basking Shark stories. All but 2 of the
photographs were taken in Isle of Man waters. This is the place to learn
about basking shark biology, law and conservation issues. Facts about basking
shark behaviour, courtship and where they go in the winter are compiled from
recent scientific discoveries by Dr David Sims and other modern-day
researchers. A lot of the biology comes from historical anatomical work that is
unlikely to be repeated. There is even a special children's section that
includes 'Revolting facts about basking sharks'!
The text has been written by Jackie Hall (MSc, BSc, BA) Voluntary
Marine Officer for the Manx Wildlife Trust. It has been edited by the Marine
Committee of the Manx Wildlife Trust, by John Galpin, a local basking shark
enthusiast and by Dr Jean-Luc Solandt of the Marine Conservation Society
Basking Shark Watch. This new website, with it's online reporting system, has
been constructed by Paul Steer of Delta IT Services
www.deltait.co.uk. He also constructed the website for Manx Whale and
Dolphin Watch. MBSW is grateful that the funding for the website construction
was provided by DAFF (Department of Agriculture Farming and Fisheries).
This website will evolve as you send in your basking shark sightings and
stories. We would love to have more local photographs of basking sharks so
please send them in. If you have a story, sighting or photograph to contribute
please let us know on 01624-801345. We hope you enjoy it.
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