Jaws Off the Coast

GIANT sharks have been spotted cruising waters around a top visitor spot off the Northumberland coast.

The 20ft long pair of basking sharks spent almost a week swimming around the Farne Islands before moving off.

The basking shark is the world’s second largest fish, after the whale shark, but is harmless to humans. It feeds exclusively on plankton, tiny sea creatures who are scooped into its cavernous mouth as it swims.

The pair of basking sharks were spotted in the waters of the Farnes by National Trust wardens on the island.

Anthony Hurd, a National Trust Warden and marine specialist on the Farnes, said: “These large plankton eaters can filter the equivalent of an Olympic sized swimming pool every hour and pose no danger to people or wildlife.”

They are common sights off the south west coast of England and North West coast of Scotland during the summer months as they feed on plankton in the Gulf Stream, but rarely come to the colder waters off the North East coast.

Mr Hurd added: “It’s only the 17th occasion that these large fish have been recorded in the North East and the first time around the Farnes. It’s fantastic to have them here.”

Basking sharks can be mistaken for Great White sharks because of their size and large triangular dorsal fin.

But, unlike the Great White, its head and tail fin also show above the water as it feeds on plankton floating close to the surface.

In winter time they normally migrate to warmer waters in other parts of the world.

(c) 2007 Evening Chronicle – Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.