The Dorsal Fin

The Vancouver Sun has an interesting article about the depletion of basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) populations from British Columbia waters over the last several decades. It begins with the story of how basking sharks were targeted for slaughter by a federal fisheries vessel equipped with a blade designed specifically to slice open basking sharks and notes a one-day record of 34 confirmed kills. The sharks were targeted due to the fact that they were becoming troublesome for fishermen by getting entangled in commercial fishing nets.

The story then flashes forward to present day and a much different view of the basking shark, which is now endangered in the waters of B.C. Sightings of the sharks have become so rare, that federal shark biologist Romney McPhie compares basking shark sightings in B.C. waters to sightings of the mythical Sasquatch and Ogopogo. However, there have been some confirmed sightings over recent decades including an encounter that BBC filmographer, Florian Graner, filmed in July of 2009.

You can check out the entire article on basking sharks at the Vancouver Sun website.

Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs posted two shark tagging videos to their YouTube Channel earlier today. The video above was shot in July 2010 and features Greg Skomal (Senior Biologist) and Dan McKernan (Assistant Director) of Massachusetts’ Division of Marine Fisheries discussing the tagging program, which last year yielded new information about Atlantic great white shark migration patterns.

At least 8 great white sharks were tagged in Massachusetts water this summer (2010). Researchers hope to gain more insight into habitat preferences and migratory patterns from the data that will be recorded as a result of this year’s shark tagging.

In addition to the white shark tagging video, MassEEA also posted a video seen above, which was filmed into 2005 documents the tagging of basking sharks in Cape Cod Bay. The video features some nice surface footage of multiple basking sharks in the bay.

According to NECN, a basking shark, which was first spotted swimming not far from shore on August 19, was later found washed ashore on White Horse Beach in Plymouth, MA.

The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), a filter-feeder, is generally considered harmless to humans.

UK’s TelegraphTV recently posted this nice piece of video footage of a basking shark off of Isle of Man. The video was shot by Craig Whalley, while he was kayaking. For an underwater video shot from a kayak, it’s some fairly impressive footage.

The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), a filter feeder, is the second largest known species of shark.

Oceanfootage.com has posted a "highlight reel" which features a compilation of clips from some of their available stock footage. The video showcases some wonderful footage of a wide variety of shark species (including the great white shark, scalloped hammerhead shark, bull shark, basking shark, and sand tiger shark to name a few).