Basking Shark Observation and Reporting Network of the Monterey Bay and California Coast.

Basking Shark Observation and Reporting Network of the Monterey Bay and California Coast.

credit: Alessandro De Maddalena/Pelagic Shark
Research Foundation

credit: Alessandro De Maddalena/Pelagic Shark Research Foundation

With a generous grant from the World Wildlife Fund, Atrenet and members of the general public, the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation has sponsored a sightings and reporting network that record and reports the times and observed locations of Basking Sharks and basking shark congregations within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary; Monterey Bay, Big Sur and San Mateo coasts. The information is utilized for conservation, research and educational purposes. The PSRF has been advocating on behalf of basking shark conservation and protected status since 1990.

Any and all mariners, researchers and sportsman are being urged to record and report the locations of basking sharks to the office of the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation at (831)600-5214. Based in Santa Cruz California. The PSRF has tagged a record 83 basking sharks within the Monterey Bay since late 1989. Basking sharks were once heavily fished via harpoon until the late 50's when the sharks became increasingly rare and in fact they became commercially extinct.

credit: Alessandro De Maddalena/Pelagic Shark Research Foundation

Present population levels are unknown and there is an established concern that basking shark populations are in steep decline and easily taken as targets of opportunity by opportunistic poachers. Although the basking shark fishery was declared officially closed in year 2000, they are not a protected species with a high premium price on sharkfin market; wherein single dorsal fins can bring in $2500.00 price tag profits. Basking shark fins are among the highest value and prestige.

The purpose of the sightings network is to assist both researchers and wildlife agencies to understand behaviors, evaluate population levels and enact measures to protect them from future over-exploitation throughout their range. Both photo Id and tiny tissue biopsy samples are collected for genetic information that will be share with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Forensics Laboratory and others that PSRF has been collaborating with over the years.

Essentially nothing is known of this huge plankton filtering shark's movements or range and it is critical to management and conservation efforts that these mysteries be unlocked. Basking sharks continue to be fished as a target of opportunity and the price and demand for 'fins' has dramatically increased world wide. It is crucial that our researchers and naturalists are able to locate and monitor periodic congregations of basking sharks before these aggregations are disrupted by human impacts.

Public assistance is vital to this effort and we thank you in advance for your support and participation. Basking sharks, (Cetorhinus maximus) are the worlds second largest known shark. They can commonly reach lengths of over 30' ft in length and can weigh several thousand pounds. Basking sharks are a mottled grayish brown and are most often observed while cruising slowly on the surface. While basking sharks are typically indifferent to humans they should not be closely approached or disturbed.

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