On the evening of August 7, 2024, a tranquil day at St Ives Harbour, Cornwall, turned into a scene straight out of a thriller movie.

Kids enjoying a swim were suddenly thrown into a state of panic when a 10-foot shark made an unexpected appearance in the clear turquoise waters.

The juvenile basking shark, a massive yet generally harmless species, was spotted gliding effortlessly near the harbour wall. As it passed by, its dorsal fin caused quite a stir among the 30 or so children swimming nearby.

Despite its imposing size and appearance, which includes a large mouth full of tiny, hooked teeth, this shark is known for its gentle nature.

Basking sharks, the world’s second-largest fish after whale sharks, are often mistaken for dangerous predators due to their size.

However, as noted by National Geographic, these creatures pose no threat to humans. Their primary diet consists of tiny zooplankton, making them harmless despite their fearsome looks.

Local Reaction and Social Media Buzz

Andy Narbett from Tiger Lilly Boat Trip St Ives was one of the few who saw the shark up close and was fascinated by the rare sighting.

Narbett recounted, “I had just finished my trips for the day and spotted the juvenile basking shark near the harbour wall. It was incredible and very rare, as we haven’t seen basking sharks in this bay for years.”

However, the excitement wasn’t shared by the children in the water.

Narbett noted, “The kids who were in the water were probably only 20 feet away from it.

They didn’t know it was harmless, so they panicked and quickly got out of the water.” He later joked on social media, “Jaws has entered the harbour!”

Public Response and Conservation Insights

The shark’s visit quickly became a hot topic online, with some humorous comments like “We’re going to need a bigger boat” and others expressing relief, “I’m glad we didn’t swim here today.” Locals also took to social media to highlight the beauty and harmlessness of the basking shark, with one person noting, “A basking shark! Beautiful animal and totally harmless.”

Conservation and Historical Context

Historically, basking sharks were hunted for their meat, fins, and liver oil, which was used in various products. At one point, up to 100,000 basking sharks were removed from the North Atlantic, leading to a near collapse of their population.

Since becoming a protected species in 1998, these sharks still face threats from boat collisions, microplastics, and fishing nets.

They are among the few shark species that feed on plankton and can be seen in shallower waters during the spring and summer months.

TDPel Media

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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