First-Ever Footage Captures Endangered Basking Shark Struck by Boat Off ireland’s Coast
In a groundbreaking yet distressing discovery, scientists recorded what is believed to be the first video of a basking shark—or any shark—being hit by a boat. The incident occurred just hours after researchers attached a tracking device to the endangered marine giant off Ireland’s coast in April.
First Evidence of a Boat Hitting a Basking Shark
Using a monitoring gadget akin to a FitBit, paired with a camera, researchers gathered data that provided a rare glimpse into how collisions with vessels affect massive sea creatures. These accidents are becoming a growing concern worldwide, according to Taylor Chapple, a shark expert at Oregon state University’s Hatfield Marine Science Centre and the lead author of the study.
“This is the first time we’ve ever directly seen a ship striking a marine giant, at least to our knowledge,” Chapple explained. “The shark was feeding at the surface when the collision happened, and it immediately dove down to deeper offshore waters—a complete shift from how it had been behaving before.”
The footage underscores the dangers these gentle giants face in shared waters. “Our research makes it clear that vessel strikes pose a real danger and that steps should be taken to lower this risk,” chapple added.
What Happened to the injured Shark?
The 7-meter-long female basking shark’s fate remains uncertain. The tracking device,programmed to detach after a set time,popped off about seven hours post-collision. Researchers retrieved it but found that the shark never resumed it’s usual feeding patterns or movements during the tracking period.
Basking sharks,the second-largest fish species on record,can grow beyond 8 meters in length. Classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of nature, these creatures are increasingly rare, with Ireland being one of the few places where they still gather in significant numbers.
Why Basking Sharks Are So Vulnerable to Boats
Like some whale species, basking sharks feed by filtering plankton near the surface, making them more susceptible to boat collisions. Though, unlike whales, they tend to sink when they die, complicating efforts to determine how frequently enough these accidents prove fatal.
“It’s a sad reality for a species that just wants to cruise the open waters in peace—without getting a rude bump in the process,” Chapple remarked.
Conservation Efforts to Protect Basking Sharks
Ireland has taken significant steps to safeguard these marine giants. In 2022, basking sharks were granted legal protection under the country’s Wildlife Act. Earlier this year, the Irish government established the nation’s first-ever National Marine Park, spanning 70,000 acres of land and sea along County kerry’s coast.This park serves as a crucial safe zone for basking sharks, which visit the area seasonally to feed and perhaps mate.
Not long after the park’s establishment, researchers were already in the area for a study aimed at understanding how basking sharks search for food and how their feeding habits relate to environmental conditions. As part of this effort, they attached a camera and activity tracker to one of the sharks—an unfortunate decision, given the subsequent collision.
“The fact that the very shark we tagged with our ‘FitBit’ got hit within just a few hours really drives home how at risk these animals are around boats,” said Nicholas Payne, an assistant professor at Trinity College Dublin’s School of Natural Sciences and a co-author of the study. “Basking sharks skim the surface while feeding,much like certain whale species,which puts them in harm’s way when vessels are around.”
For a creature just trying to enjoy an all-you-can-eat plankton buffet, it’s a stark reminder that the ocean isn’t always a safe place to dine.| Key Facts About Basking Sharks |
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| Length: Up to 8 meters or more |
| Status: Endangered worldwide |
| Feeding Habits: Filter plankton near the surface |
| Vulnerability: High risk of boat collisions |
| Conservation Efforts: Protected under Ireland’s Wildlife Act and National Marine Park |
This incident highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and preventive measures to protect these majestic creatures from the growing threat of vessel strikes.
