Inside Scotland's shark hotspots – as expert reveals where to find world's second-largest fish

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

Shark Week has been a Discovery Channel staple for nearly 40 years.
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A MARINE expert has called on Scots to get their teeth into Shark Week - so they learn more about the amazing big fish in Scottish waters.
Dr James Thorburn, of Edinburgh Napier University, reckons people assume they have to travel thousands of miles to find interesting aquatic life.
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Basking Shark feeding on plankton during the bloom in the Scottish waters off the Isle of Coll.
Credit: Getty
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Dr James Thorburn is excited about the work taking place in Scottish waters.
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Movies like Jaws have led to unfair stereotypes about sharks.
Credit: Alamy
But he insists there's plenty of amazing animals much closer to home that would get people hooked on learning more about what's under the sea.
And there's no better time than Shark Week - a Discovery Channel staple for nearly 40 years.
James, Associate Professor in Marine Ecology, said: "Sharks are often deeply misunderstood, largely due to their portrayal in films and television as mindless killers, as seen in movies like Jaws and other shark-attack thrillers.
"These depictions fuel fear rather than understanding, even though shark attacks are incredibly rare and most species - such as those in Scottish waters - pose no threat to humans.
"Events like Shark Week can be a double-edged sword: while some content still leans into sensationalism that can support misconceptions and fears about these animals, it also serves as a powerful platform to educate the public, highlight the ecological importance of sharks, and promote conservation."
The academic points out that Scotland is home to certain species that have been almost entirely eradicated elsewhere in the world.
While there's others that will swim in and out of our shores depending on the time of year that are more difficult to catch a glimpse of.
He said: "Scotland's waters host a remarkable number of sharks, skates, and rays, collectively known as elasmobranchs, with over 60 recorded species, ranging from permanent residents to occasional visitors.
"Among Scotland's most iconic elasmobranchs is the basking shark, the second-largest fish in the world, growing up to 11 metres. Seasonal visitors to our waters, their appearance provides valuable opportunities to study their migratory patterns and ecological role, particularly in hotspots such as the Sea of the Hebrides.
"The porbeagle shark is another amazing species found in Scottish waters year-round. They are more commonly found off the north and west coasts, particularly around Orkney, Shetland, and the Minch.
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"Another flagship species is the critically endangered flapper skate, Europe's largest skate, which can reach lengths of over 2.5 metres. Once widespread across Europe, flapper skate populations have drastically declined due to historical overfishing, leaving Scotland as one of their last strongholds."
Recent advancements in technology also mean that finding sharks and identifying the species has never been easier - even though it's still a tricky task.
He added: "Recent developments have significantly advanced our understanding of Scotland's sharks, skates, and rays. Surveys and research have shown that Scotland's sea lochs and deep inshore waters are vital habitats for elasmobranchs.
"The Firth of Lorn supports a resident population of flapper skate, while Loch Etive has emerged as a key site for spurdog, a small shark species present in coastal waters year-round.
"Large numbers of skate egg cases have been discovered at key nursery sites such as the Inner Sound of Skye, prompting protection.
"Innovative tools like AI-powered photo ID and citizen science collaborations with anglers are tracking individual animals and mapping movements.
Scotland's Shark Species
There's a number of sharks that are found in Scottish waters. Here's some of the most interesting.
Basking shark
Basking sharks are the second-largest fish in the world but usually only eat plankton by swimming through the water with their mouths wide open.
You're most likely to see this species just off the Scottish shoreline in summer since the temperatures are warmer.
Their hotspots are in the Isle of Skye and the Isle of Mull in the Scottish Hebrides.
Porbeagle shark
A bit chunkier than your average shark, this species can be found several miles offshore because they prefer the deeper water there.
They like to eat mackerel and herring and will also feed on bottom-dwelling fish too.
The porbeagle shark is closely related to the great white shark as both are from the Lamnidae family
Shortfin mako shark
Mako's are also unlikely to attack humans and typically make seasonal appearances in Scottish waters.
They are one of the fastest shark species in the world and can survive in much colder waters - raising their body temperature higher than that of the depths.
They're found in many different parts of the world - including off the coast of Aberdeen more recently after an oil rig worker filmed one.
Dogfish shark
While most sharks have blue or grey colouring, dogfish sharks have tan bodies with dark brown spots.
They usually only grow up to 3ft in length and fishermen often see them as nuisances, because they can get caught in fishing nets or take bait meant for much larger fish.
It's not easy to spot them because they prefer sandy ground and tend to live and feed close to the seabed.
"These efforts highlight strong site fidelity, seasonal patterns, and even international connectivity with waters around Europe, underscoring the need for cross-border conservation."
James credits Scotland for being proactive in its conservation efforts to protect sharks and other species.
For example, the Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura MPA has seen flapper skate numbers increase since restrictions on mobile fishing gear were introduced.
While Red Rocks and Longay, on the Inner Sound of Skye, was declared a Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (MPA) after the discovery of an exceptional flapper skate egg nursery.
The Sea of the Hebrides MPA is also protecting basking shark hotspots, while several areas within Scottish Seas were proposed for the global Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) initiative that aims to identify the world's most important zones for conservation.
Despite all of the impressive work that's already been done, James wants to see more collaboration on conservation efforts to ensure sharks remain in Scottish waters for a long time to come.
He said: "Historically, angler-based projects like the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme and the Glasgow Museum Tagging projects helped designate current MPAs for elasmobranchs.
"More recently, research on sharks, skates, and rays in Scotland is rapidly expanding, driven by both academic initiatives and citizen science.
"A wide range of technologies is being used to enhance our understanding of these elusive species, including sophisticated tags to track movements, genetics to understand how populations are connected, underwater cameras to observe these animals in their natural habitat, and artificial intelligence to help us fully investigate the data generated from this technology.
"Organisations like the Orkney Skate Trust are also collecting regional data on sharks, skates and rays to enhance our understanding of these species in Island regions.
"The other great thing in Scotland is that people work together on large projects such as the MASTS-funded SharkScape project - led by Edinburgh Napier University. This collaborative approach is generating high-quality scientific data while raising public awareness and strengthening conservation efforts.
"Together, these efforts are building a much clearer picture of how elasmobranchs use Scottish waters, informing better management and protection."