SOME-FIN LURKS BENEATH
UK shark sightings – where have they been spotted and how many shark attacks have their been in British waters?
SHARKS are not normally top of the list of things to worry about in British waters, but scientists say we will see encounter them more often as the seas warm.
Here's a round-up of some recent shark sightings around the UK.
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Where have sharks been spotted in British waters?
- August 10, 2018: Boat tour operator Robert Hughes snaps an 11ft thresher shark leaping clear of the waves near Torquay, Devon
- July 26, 2018: The Sun filmed sharks hunting in Plymouth and Penzance, where 20 blue sharks were seen the week before
- July 16, 2018: A 9ft blue shark was seen close to shore in St Ives, Cornwall
- May 17, 2018: Three anglers fought 9ft shark off Whitby, North Yorks, in a 40-minute battle before setting it free
- May 14, 2018: Great White feared to be stalking seas off Norfolk coast after half eaten dolphins wash ashore
- May 13, 2018: Trawlerman Max Berryman, 21, was left with a 10-inch shark bite down his leg after a porbeagle struck off the Cornish coast
- April 22, 2018: Shark lurks just feet from kayaker off Cornwall coast
- November 2017: There were fears of a dangerous shark close to the UK after a porpoise washed ashore on a Kent beach with what appeared to be the bite marks of a large predator
- June 6, 2017: Surfer Rich Thomson, 30, fought off what he estimates was a 3ft shark at Bantham in the South Hams
- May 7, 2017: Ben Bond, 26, spent 90 minutes off the coast of Ireland struggling to reel in the deadly 25ft long sixgill shark on a fishing trip off County Clare
- April 14, 2017: 17-stone Porbeagle - was caught off Hartland in Devon after fishermen battled with it for nearly an hour
- April 10, 2017: week before two stunned fisherman hooked a mammoth 28-stone Porbeagle off the Cornish coastline
Which sharks are in UK waters?
More than 40 different species of shark pass through UK waters, but only 21 of these can be found all year round.
The porbeagle is one of the most common types to be spotted by British fisherman.
Its distinctive dorsal fin and long powerful body are among the characteristics that make the creature resemble a great white.
Thankfully, there has never been a confirmed case of a porbeagle killing a human, as the predators feed on smaller fish.
The basking shark is another species that regularly causes alarm in British waters.
Even though the creature can grow up to ten metres long, and has a worryingly large jaw, it's highly unlikely they will attack as they feast on plankton.
Experts predict man-eating great whites, hammerheads, blacktips and tiger sharks could be regulars in British waters by 2048.
LATEST ON SHARKS
What to do if you spot a shark?
Stay still
If you spot a shark stay as calm as possible. Most sharks will leave on their own, if you stay quiet. Unprovoked shark attacks on humans are rare.
Attack back, only if attacked
Do whatever it takes to get away without making noise or splashing. Startle it by punching it in the nose, claw at its eyes or grab its gills; the most sensitive areas of a shark.
Don't turn your back
Whatever you do, don't take your eyes off the shark. They have many surprise tactics such as hit-and-run or bump-and-bite.
Report it
If you spot a shark from the beach, report the sighting to the local harbour patrol along with the dimensions and location of the shark.
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