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Just 20 miles from Whitehaven is one of the best places in the world to see
40 tonne monster Basking Sharks. Cruising slowly up and down the Irish Sea are
these gentle giants.
The sharks seem to be congregating around the Isle of Man. 
Basking sharks are found around the west coast of Scotland, south west Ireland
and as far east as Weymouth on the English south coast.
Basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) are the second largest fishes in the world.
These gentle giants have a bluish-grey skin which can sometimes be dark brown
or black and can grow up to 11m (33 feet) long and can weigh over 40 tonnes.
They have enormous gill clefts which almost completely encircle their neck.
Gill clefts harbour long bristles known as gill rakers which are used by basking
sharks to filter vast quantities of sea water in their quest for the microscopic
plankton they eat. They are often seen lying motionless at the surface of the
water as if basking in the sun, hence their common name - basking sharks. Do
not attempt to touch the sharks as they are
likely to become aggressive. Current legislation also prohibits disturbing and
hunting of basking sharks. Basking sharks are very docile and are of little
danger to man unless they collide with a boat, in which case their huge size
can sink a fishing vessel. There have been reports of boats unlucky enough to
be underneath a shark when it jumps clear
of the water, with dire consequences. The jumping behaviour is thought to be
an effort to remove ecto-parasites such
as lampreys and copepods from the skin and gills.
*By the way, the average bank deposit per head of population on the Isle of
Man is £8 million. Because the isle is an international tax haven where
the rich and offshore companies register their interests as a way of avoiding
paying taxes. The Islands have
now been blamed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) for harming trade and investment.
So called Brass Plate companies can set up in the Isle for Man for as little
as £300 and in return can be except from income and withholding taxes.
Laws on the Isle of Man are read out on a grassy hill call;ed Tynwald in a ceremony
that goes back to the isle's Viking origins. Until the 1990's they retained
birching and a nominal right to shoot Scotsmen on sight!
Suggestion: The Basking Shark Society, Cronk Mooar, Curragh Rd, St. John's,
Isle of Man, IM4 3LN. Tel: (01624) 801207 and ask for more information.