MEET THE AUTHOR HOR
Why is the book important?
Basking sharks have been hunted in British waters since the 1760s, but Britain eventually led the world in protecting the species through science, policy and conservation. The story is well worth celebrating.
When did hunting peak?
Immediately after World War II there was an attempt to establish industrial-scale hunting off the west coast of Scotland. From 1946 to 1953 around 1,000 animals were killed by Scottish fishermen, but Norwegian hunters operating illegally in those same waters took far more. It was wholesale slaughter.
When did it cease?
A lone fisherman called Howard McCrindle operated in the Firth of Clyde between 1978 and 1994. Initially he was after the sharks’ liver oil, but latterly solely their fins, which fetched colossal values in the Asian market. In 1998 the species finally became protected.
How successful was the UK hunting industry?
The domestic hunters were not very effective, but the Norwegians were. They followed the sharks as they moved seasonally in and out of our waters, so the overall stock was drastically depleted across the species’ range.
What’s the latest science telling us?
New research shows that the west coast of Scotland is a key residential area for the basking shark in summer. Designation of the Sea of the Hebrides as a mobile species Marine Protected Area could provide critical support to a population recovery.
What have we still to learn?
We still know very little about their reproduction. The hunters took many more females than males; only one birth has ever been recorded; no sighting of copulation has ever been confirmed and we’ve no idea where pregnant females go.
How is the species faring now?
The signs are positive. Sightings are increasing, including of big shoals. It’s a major draw in ecotourism terms. Cornwall, the Isle of Man and the west coast of Scotland are perhaps the most dependable waters in the world for seeing this magnificent creature.