Basking Shark Death/injury

[jonmitch]

My girlfriend was observing sharks of Gwenap Head in Cornwall over the weekend for the charity seawatch. There were up to 17 in the water over a 6hour period. She witnessed a local sea safari RIB completely flout Shark Trust guidelines and run right over an 8 metre animal.

Now this on the BBC website this morning........

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6971053.stm

Please remember the rules if approaching these beautiful animals in your boat!!

[Shaggy]

Did she report it to the police?

Shaggy

[nikster]

was the rib a commercial operator? - if so - then i think you ought to name and shame them? - no place in this industry for commercial cowboys - all they will do is create more and more paperwork and more stupid requirements for what should be a fun experience....!

[planktonjules]

Hi guys, I am the girlfriend in question, and yes it was reported to the police. It was approx 1.5km offshore just off the Runnel Stone which marks the reef, this is where the plankton converges and sharks gether to feed. As for the tour company in question....do we really think they should be named and shamed?

Vote now!

PS: Jon, since when was our boat called Ningaloo...I wanted to call it Rubber Ducky...am I going to have to have words with you later?xx

[peterb]

Personally I think they should be named as well.

[Red Fox]

Name the irresponsible tossers. It is one of the delights of going to sea, to share the environment with those that live there. Actions like this are uncalled for.

[MarkBarker]

What a tragedy. Were they actually looking at the sharks and got too close? If so, name and shame - no doubt.

However, last Wednesday, on my way to the Scillies, I was hacking along at about 35kts 2 miles south of Lamorna when I missed a shark by about 20 feet. Imediately stopped, trolled back to check I had not hit any others (probably would have felt it, but having never done so, couldn't be sure). Point is, I was lucky not to have been 20' further south, (but not as lucky as the shark). I really could not see it until it was too late.

For your viewing pleasure, here are three pics I took a couple of years back when flying just off Lundy Bay north of Rock. There were probably 20 or so sharks there at the time.

Mark

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Red Fox

Name the irresponsible tossers. It is one of the delights of going to sea, to share the environment with those that live there. Actions like this are uncalled for.

I would be very reluctant to name and shame - there but for the grace of God go us!!!

IF they were being knowingly reckless then it's a different matter.

Awesome pics Mark.

[jyasaki]

Mark; I know exactly what you went through.

A some friends of mine and I were heading out for a night dive; 3 boats heading out just after dusk. We had cleared the Breakwater, did a traffic check, and pushed it up to about 20mph or so for the cruise to the site. I noticed a disturbance in the water ahead, and chopped throttle, the boat off my port quarter also slowed; the boat on my starboard quarter kept on. For a little bit. The disturbance was a gray whale, moving slowly from dead ahead of me to the right. The Zodiac saw it late, cut throttle, and missed it by, I would guess, less than a couple of feet. I'm pretty sure I saw the whale below the overhang of the bow.

So, it happens. The ocean is a big place, but close encounters occur from time to time. All the more reason to keep a good lookout.


jky

[nikster]

From the start of the post - it sounds like a group were already observing - and a git in rib - decided he wanted to get closer than anybody else.......... if the rib on the other hand was on passage - a2b and was none the wiser - yes i can understand - but for their to be no-one looking ahead at the water for obstructions or fins in an area prone or known for shark feeding gives even more cause for concern if it indeed was a commercial operator....

Sounds to me like the witness on here knows the deal and knows the operator by sight...... it might be one of their advertised excursions or thrill rides????

If it was reckless driving with an established operator in that part of the country - let them be known.......!!!