Basking Sharks have already started to arrive around the British coastline, and the Shark Trust is encouraging the water sports community to record any sightings to the Basking Shark Sightings Database. The surfing, kayaking, sailing community can provide vital data on the movement of these Endangered sharks. The Shark Trust hopes that more sightings provided by those out on the water will help improve our understanding of these magnificent sharks.
Each year these mighty fish return to British waters to feed on plankton. From now until October you may see one, or even a few, feeding at the surface of the water. Where they look like they’re basking in the sun. Thus, their name!
Today Basking Sharks are one of the most heavily protected sharks in UK and EU waters, but this wasn’t always the case.
From 1946-1995 Basking Sharks were heavily fished in the Northeast Atlantic, targeted for their liver oil for use in lamps, their meat, and for their large fins, which were prized in the shark fin trade. This intense fishing pressure meant Basking Shark populations were driven to collapse.
Basking Sharks are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Although they are no longer targeted, they can still be caught as bycatch or become entangled in lost fishing gear. Monitoring, management, and further research is vital to ensure their survival.
Basking Sharks are slow growing, long-lived, late to mature, and produce few young. This makes them extremely vulnerable to human impacts. Once populations have declined, they can take a long time to recover.
“While we need targeted and well-funded scientific research to fully understand the status and potential recovery of Basking Sharks, we can all play a part in filling the gaps.” says Paul Cox, Managing Director of the Shark Trust, “Each sighting, when added to our database, provides a piece of evidence that can help scientists draw conclusions. We’re really grateful to all our citizen scientists for the part they play in shark conservation and research.”
Basking Sharks are extremely vulnerable to disturbance and harassment by water users. So, as part of the Basking Shark Project, the Shark Trust has created the Basking Shark Code of Conduct for water users. By following this advice, you can enjoy watching Basking Sharks while ensuring a safe encounter for both you and the shark. Remember the sheer size of the sharks warrants respect and caution. It’s also illegal to intentionally disturb or harass Basking Sharks in UK waters.
Seeing Basking Sharks swimming in our seas is an incredible experience. There is nothing quite like spotting their fins cutting through the surface and then seeing their mouth open wide as they feed at the surface. Their arrival to our coastline, and each and every sighting, is an exciting event. Please ensure any encounters this summer are done so safely, for you and the shark, and that you tell the Shark Trust all about it!
What you can do to help Basking Sharks
Record your Basking Shark Sightings on our website or via our app https://recording.sharktrust.org/sightings/record
https://www.sharktrust.org/app
Download the Code of Conduct
www.sharktrust.org/basking-shark-project
Adopt a Basking Shark
www.sharktrust.org/adopt-a-basking-shark
Donate to the Basking Shark Project
www.sharktrust.org/donate/basking-sharks
For more information about the work of the Shark Trust visit their website: www.sharktrust.org
City to Sea, a campaigning organisation that aims to stop plastic pollution, has received new lending from sustainable bank, Triodos Bank UK. The finance, in collaboration with grant and donation funding, will allow the organisation to continue to expand its campaigning and education work.
Natalie Fee takes City to See out on a team day, river bank cleanup, littler picking
The two Bristol-based organisations were both founded with aims of tackling social and environmental issues. City to Sea, which was established as a community interest company in 2016, works with communities, businesses, and activists to provide practical solutions to the problem of single-use plastic. It has campaigned across areas including water refills and disposable coffee cups, as well as plastic-free periods and brought about significant legislative bans on items such as cotton buds, cutlery and polystyrene.
Triodos Bank UK has a 25-year history of lending to organisations working for positive social and environmental change and was named Charities’ Bank of the Year at the Charity Times Awards 2023.
City to Sea has recently announced an expansion of Refill Destinations with ten more local authorities across the UK, as well as offering its returnable coffee cup scheme to university campuses in Bath to help cut pollution. It has also recently launched a campaign to ban single-use packaging in restaurants, cafes and bars.
Natalie Fée, founder of City to Sea, said: “City to Sea have banked with Triodos for almost ten years now, so when it came to securing a loan to support our growth, it was incredibly valuable to have a relationship with a local, ethical bank that know us well and could take us through the lending process painlessly! We’re grateful to have Triodos finance backing us so we can keep investing in our much-needed environmental campaigns.”
Simon Crichton, lending manager for nature, food and resource at Triodos Bank UK, added: “We finance sustainable organisations all across the UK – and Europe – but it’s always particularly exciting when you’re able to work with a likeminded organisation in the city where you’re based. City to Sea has had an incredible impact in transforming the public’s awareness and approach to unnecessary, everyday plastic use, so we’re pleased to be able to enable them to continue building on this work.”
The entry portal to the very popular 16th Jesus Longboard Classic is now open and organiser Christian Surfers UK is very excited to be welcoming the longboard community to the event’s usual venue of Tubestation and using the beach at Polzeath.
This year we have continued with our earlier date in April after last year’s success, as it gives the potential of warmer weather whilst still having the potential of great surf.
Last year’s event was held in some great surf with quality longboarding throughout and an entry field approaching 90, and CSUK can’t wait to welcome the community back for another epic event.
The Jesus Longboard Classic is a great contest for both those who have not entered a competition before, as well as those seasoned contest surfers. The event has a well-deserved reputation for its friendly atmosphere and relaxed vibe, as well as the later rounds being highly competitive, with previous winners including surfers such as Emily Currie, and Ben Skinner.
The event features the following categories (age is calculated as on 1 January 2024):
Legends 60+
Grandmasters 50+
Masters 35+
Juniors Under 18
Men’s Open
Women’s Open
Due to the ongoing popularity of the event, entries are limited to two categories per entrant and early booking is strongly advised.
If you would like to enter please follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/jesus-longboard-classic-registration-categories-3171709
All entries include a free T-shirt and some hospitality at Tubestation during the course of the weekend. We are currently trialling out a new entry portal and so if you are entering a second category you will get your £3 reduction on the day.
Christian Surfers UK is very pleased that, although not forming part of their contest series, the event is being endorsed by the British Longboard Union (BLU). A big thank you to all the sponsors and supporters who have committed for this year: Cornwall Council, Tubestation, Finisterre, Christian Surfers UK, Era Adventures, George’s Surf School, Kosin, Ocean Frog, 10 Over Surf Shop and also a very big welcome to new sponsors Surf’s Up! and Wavehunters.
