Basking Shark

About the Basking Shark

The basking shark is the second largest fish in the world after the whale shark. These gentle giants can reach lengths of up to 12 m (39 ft). They are highly migratory and are found all over the world in temperate waters. They are often seen near the surface, but they can also migrate across oceans and dive to depths of more than 1,000 m (3,280 ft).

Biology

Basking sharks usually prefer temperatures between 7 and 16 degrees Celsius (44.6–60.8 °F). They are easy to identify due to their huge jaw, which can open up to 1 m wide. They also have a large, oil-rich liver that helps provide buoyancy. Males reach maturity at lengths of 4–7.5 m (13.1–24.6 ft), while females mature at 6.9–9.8 m (22.6–32.2 ft).

Reproduction

The species is ovoviviparous, meaning embryos develop in eggs that hatch inside the mother’s body. Females give birth to approximately 6 pups after a gestation period of 12–36 months and likely reproduce only once every two years. Pups measure approximately 1.5–2 m (4.9–6.6 ft) at birth. Females reach maturity at about 16–20 years of age and can live up to 50 years. The generational length is estimated to be 34 years old.

Behavior

Despite their huge size, basking sharks are harmless. They are filter feeders, and their diet consists of zooplankton, including krill and other planktonic organisms. Their name comes from their habit of slowly swimming near the surface of the water while feeding.

Basking sharks are also known to leap out of the water on occasion and are the largest shark species to fully breach the surface. This behaviour may be related to communication, courtship, or the removal of parasites, but its exact purpose remains uncertain. They are often solitary, but can form seasonal aggregations of up to 1,398 individuals during plankton blooms.

Conservation

Basking sharks have been fished for their liver oil, meat, and fins. They are considered endangered by the IUCN due to their slow reproductive cycle. Their global population is estimated to have declined by 50-79% reduction over the past 102 years. Basking sharks are also listed in CITES Appendix II. International trade of Basking shark products is restricted, but they are still landed as bycatch in the North Atlantic. They are protected in several countries throughout the North Atlantic.

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Basking Shark Gallery