Researchers Capture First Basking Shark Boat Strike

Researchers captured the first-ever footage of a basking shark being struck by a boat just hours after the shark was tagged with a camera device off the coast of Ireland. The 23-foot-long endangered shark immediately fled to deeper waters and ceased feeding for the duration of the recorded footage, highlighting the significant non-lethal effects of such collisions. This incident underscores the vulnerability of surface-feeding marine megafauna to vessel strikes and the urgent need for enforceable regulations to mitigate these risks. The footage and subsequent data offer crucial insights into the behavioral changes and potential long-term impacts on the shark's health following the collision. The study's findings have prompted calls for more research and protective measures in regions where basking sharks congregate, such as the waters around the Blasket Islands.