Two rarely seen thresher sharks have been spotted swimming in the coastal waters around Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales.
The first sighting was made in St. Brides Bay and the second near the island of Grassholm.
Thresher sharks migrate through UK waters in the summer months but are not often seen, especially along the Welsh coastline – although in recent years, sightings have increased. They are known for their long tails and their incredible ability to jump high out of the water into the air.
The sharks were among several exciting sightings recorded in the first week of Sea Watch Foundation's 2024 National Whale and Dolphin Watch event, which aims to get a snapshot of the status and distribution of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) in UK waters.
Eleven different species of dolphin, shark and whale have been recorded so far, including fin whales off the coast of Cornwall in south-west England and Fife in east Scotland, and numerous minke whales from all around the UK.
The two thresher sharks are among the most uncommon UK marine species spotted so far in this year's survey, says Sea Watch Foundation, Britain’s oldest marine mammal research and education charity.
Threshers, which are classed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, can measure up to 6m and weigh 340kg. Torpedo-shaped bodies, large dorsal and pectoral fins, and a long tail (as long as the shark's body) make them excellent swimmers. They also use their extremely long tails to hunt, corralling small fish into tight shoals before stunning them with a tail trash, making them easy to catch.
They spend most of its time in the deep waters of the open sea, rarely straying into coastal areas – which makes the sightings in Pembrokeshire particularly special.
As well as whales and sharks, large groups of common dolphins have been seen on their yearly aggregations, and bottlenose dolphins have been recorded along most of the UK coastline, with particularly strong concentrations in Cardigan Bay, West Wales. Over 100 harbour porpoise sightings have been logged all around the UK, while Risso’s dolphins have also been recorded in Devon, West Wales, North Wales and Northumberland.
The 2024 National Whale and Dolphin Watch started on 26th July and ends on 4th August. Sightings can be submitted to: seawatchfoundation.org.uk/sightingsform or via the free Sea Watcher app available on Android and iOS devices.
Main image: Thresher sharks (not the individuals spotted off the Pembrokeshire coast). Credit: Getty
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