A new survey has been launched in the UK to assess the abundance and movements of Britain's biggest fish, says ITV.
The Basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus is the second biggest fish in the world and can reach up to 9.8m/32' in length and weigh in at over 4000 kg/8818 lbs. It's found across quite a wide area, from Brazil and Canada to New Zealand, but also visits the UK. In the UK it is most common in the south west and can sometimes be seen feeding on plankton at the surface during the summer.
Despite its size, little is known about the species, which is classed as vulnerable by the IUCN and is listed on CITES Appendix II.
Joan Edwards of The Wildlife Trusts told ITV: "We're also starting to find that we get mass sightings in certain areas and particularly off Cornwall and we believe this is because of mating. Now when you get them in large numbers like that they're very vulnerable and it may be we'll be looking for a marine protected area at certain times of the year".
In May a survey vessel will leave Falmouth to start monitoring the sharks over the summer. Anyone who spots a Basking shark should contact The Wildlife Trusts.