A remarkable 32 species of shark visit Britain – here's where to spot them
Rising ocean temperatures are likely to bring 10 new species of shark to British waters by 2050, according to a new study by National Geographic.
New arrivals could include the great hammerhead, bigeye thresher and oceanic whitetip shark, which has a reputation for feeding on shipwreck survivors.
Bathers shouldn’t be worried, however. In the US, which is home to many species of shark, people are 30 times more likely to be killed by lightning than they are a shark, according to Florida Museum.
The marine conservation charity, Shark Trust, says more than 30 species of shark are currently found in British waters, “including some of the fastest, rarest, largest and most highly migratory sharks in the world”. Here are five of the best places to see them.
At a glance | The 32 sharks that visit the UK
1. Cornwall, England
Britain’s most south-western corner is well known for its dolphin watching opportunities – but during the summer months you’ll find basking sharks, blue sharks and (if you're really lucky) porbeagle sharks on its coastline too. It’s quite common to see the find of basking sharks poking out of the water as they skulk around gobbling up plankton – book on to a boat tour or station yourself on a cliff top for the best views. During winter, it’s thought that they migrate to deeper, more nutrient-rich waters.
Make it happen
You’ll find lots of local operators in Cornwall running dolphin and shark-watching trips – among them, Padstow Sea Life Safaris (07754822404, padstowsealifesafaris.co.uk) and Penzance-based Marine Discovery (07749 277110, marinediscovery.co.uk).
2. Hebrides, Scotland
With humpback whales, sea birds and dolphins in abundance, the west coast of Scotland is one of the UK’s richest spots for marine wildlife – and in spring and summer you’ll likely find basking sharks too. Most trips sail from Oban, Mull and Skye, skirting the spectacular isles to popular feeding sites – where you can swim and snorkel with the sharks, or simply watch them from the boat.
Make it happen
Shark-watching season runs from April to October, and your best chances of sightings is to join a specialist boat trip. Hebridean Whale Cruises (01445 712 458, hebridean-whale-cruises.co.uk), Basking Shark Scotland (07975-723140, baskingsharkscotland.co.uk) offer a variety of tours.
Britain's top ten locations for shark spotting
3. Dorset, England
Not a summer goes by without a tabloid describing a holidaymaker’s “near death” grapple with a shark on a Dorset beach. Blue, thresher and basking sharks often get stranded on the gently-shelving sand while they’re feeding – but of course they’re not half as dangerous as headlines make out, as the folk at MARINElife will attest. Since 2007, the wildlife charity has been monitoring shark sightings in Lyme Bay, which is also a hotspot for minke whales, common dolphins, porpoises, sunfish and more.
Make it happen
A beached shark is a distressing sight, so cross your fingers for a glimpse from a boat or coastal viewpoint instead. Talk to Jurassic Coast Activities (01305 835301, jurassiccoastactivities.co.uk), which runs kayaking trips along the Dorset coast.
4. Isle of Man
The Manx coast is a world-renowned basking shark hotspot – with some of the highest concentration of sightings in the British Isles. Slap bang in the middle of the Irish Sea – one of the sharks’ main migration routes – the Isle of Man’s south coastline is a particularly good place to base yourself. If you do see a shark, report it to the Manx Basking Shark Watch, a favourite charity of television presenter and big basking shark fan Chris Packham.
Make it happen
Visit from May to August for the best chances. Isle of Man Diving Holidays (isleofmandivingholidays.com) runs sightseeing boat trips as well as diving holidays for a real up-close encounter.
5. Cardigan Bay, Wales
This sweeping section of Irish Sea coastline is home to the UK’s biggest pod of dolphins – and you’ll also find basking sharks, whales (minke, fin, and the occasional orca) plus leatherback turtles (they come for the jellyfish in late summer) too. Thresher sharks have also made the odd appearance – although they prefer deep water, so don’t tend to stray close to the shore.
Make it happen
Contact the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (01545 560 032, cbmwc.org) for boat trips – daily, from Easter until the end of October. Seamor (07795 242445, seamor.org) also offers shark- and dolphin- watching tours.
At a glance | Surprising animals you can spot in Britain
