A WARNING has been issued to boat owners to be careful after the first basking shark of the year was spotted off the west coast of Cornwall this weekend.

The warning was issued by Captain Keith Reeves from Falmouth based AK Wildlife Cruises after he encountered his first shark at the weekend as well as a plethora of other wildlife.

Falmouth Packet:

"They are not very easy to see," Captain Reeves told the Packet. "Our sighting of them when we initially saw them was just the tip of the dorsal fin three inches and then five inches above the surface. We saw it for a brief moment.

"They are very slow and are only just below the surface. We are asking boat owners to take care and pay attention, if the sharks get hit by the boat hull it will slash their bodies and even kill them."

Falmouth Packet:

On Easter Sunday, the AK Cruises boat Free Spirit headed out for the first explore of the bay. They saw an incredible diversity of species including several porpoises, lots of seals and over 20 different bird species.

"And most amazingly to our surprise, the first basking shark of the year," said Captain Reeves.

"As we headed east around the coast, we sighted a group of approximately 20 grey seals, some hauled out on a secluded beach, whilst others were playing around between the waves and rocks."

Falmouth Packet:

"A flock of sandwich terns was also spotted as well as a great northern diver and a Slavonian grebe. And not long after, the unmistakable fin of a basking shark emerged, before amazingly swimming alongside the boat for us all to see."

Falmouth Packet:

After running in a big loop offshore they headed all the way west and managed to pick up a few harbour porpoises, including a small calf, and checked on peregrine falcons and Fulmars at their nesting sites on the way back in.

Falmouth Packet:

Sadly, they also spotted a few floating pieces of rubbish including a large plastic sheet and big block of polystyrene which luckily they were able to grab and pull out before they met with any the wildlife.

Falmouth Packet:

Their tally for the day included:

  • One basking shark, 18ft in length, first for the year
  • Three Harbour Porpoises, including one calf
  • 26 Atlantic Grey Seals
  • One Puffin, single bird flying through offshore
  • Four Razorbills, lots of Guillemots, several at nesting site
  • One Great Northern Diver, part summer plumage
  • One Slavonian Grebe
  • 30+ Sandwich Terns
  • Two Shelducks
  • One Eider Duck, moulting
  • Oystercatchers
  • 12 Manx Shearwaters
  • Six Fulmars, including a couple of nesting pairs
  • Gannets
  • Travellers
  • Three Peregrine Falcons, at nest sites
  • A Buzzard
  • Six Ravens

Falmouth Packet:

From April 12, AK Wildlife cruises will start operating in a Covid safe environment again. Details can be found here