Basking sharks quit Scottish waters for winter sun

SCOTLAND’S basking sharks seek out winter sun in warm waters, a study says.

Some spend their winters off Portugal, North Africa and the Bay of Biscay while others choose a “staycation” around Britain and Ireland.

Little was known about the winter habits of the endangered basking sharks as they spend only a short time on the surface of the sea and are often far from land.

Researchers from Exeter University, co-funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, used satellite tracking to conduct the most detailed study of their migrations.

It was once thought the giant, plankton-eating fish hibernated in the waters off Britain.

But the researchers tagged 70 sharks and, of the 28 tags which transmitted for more than five months, they found most sharks either stayed near the UK or swam to the waters off Spain, Portugal and North Africa.

A smaller number wintered in the Bay of Biscay and those heading south left in late summer and autumn.

Dr Suzanne Henderson of Scottish Natural Heritage added: “This huge and mysterious shark has intrigued us as a nation for many years, and tagging technology now allows us to piece together vital parts of their life cycle.

“Our partnership with Exeter University has confirmed the Sea of the Hebrides is an important destination in the migratory cycle for the sharks and Scottish ministers are considering our proposal to designate it a marine protected area.”

Basking sharks, the world second-largest fish species, are seen as “vulnerable” by conservationists.

Scotland’s local population is said to be “endangered”.