Basking Shark

A basking shark is the second largest living species of shark, the largest being the whale shark. It averages 20 to 26 feet long but the biggest one caught and verified on record was 40.3 feet long and was caught in Canada in 1851. The basking shark is a filter feeder, meaning it eats only plankton. Because they eat only plankton and not fish or animals, they will not be attracted to chum. They are a prime experience for divers because they are virtually harmless and w will often interact with the divers by circling them. There has never been any record of a shark attack on a human regarding basking sharks. They are noted as not being afraid of boats and will approach them should the boats come within their path. They are slow, swiming at an average speed of around 2 knots per hour (roughtly 2.3 miles per hour). Basking sharks are often known to travel in same-sex groups called shoals. They often swim at the surface to feed, hence the name "basking" shark because they appeared to be basking in the sun. In 2009, 25 basking sharks were tagged off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Studies on those sharks showed that they can remain at depths of 660 to 3,300 feet for weeks at a time and can travel as far south as Brazil. Basking sharks don't have many predators but have been known to be attacked by tiger sharks and orcas. The biggest threat to basking sharks is people. Traditionally, they were hunted by whalers for oil, flesh and leath but are now hunted for shark fin soup and traditional Chinese medicene. From 1845 to 1970, Canada declared them a nuisance and the government attempted to eradicate them (a.k.a. wipe them out). Human influence has caused a serious decline in the population of basking sharks and they are now a protected species in several countries but not all.

Picture of two average sized divers by an open mouth basking shark.


A young woman swimming with a basking shark.