NOAA's Fisheries Service has designated the eastern North Pacific basking shark, a "species of concern" because it has suffered a dramatic decline in population despite decreasing fishing pressure.

A recent scientific conference has provided new evidence for the effects of unseasonal summer storms on a variety of spectacular marine life, including deadly jellyfish, basking sharks and oceanic seabirds.

Researchers have discovered where basking sharks – the world's second largest fish – hide out for half of every year.

SIX basking sharks have been tagged off the coast of Donegal. The creatures were spotted swimming in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and were filmed by an RTE crew.

Volunteers are being asked to log sightings of basking sharks in a survey that aims to find out more about the world's second largest fish.