Basking Sharks Swim Close to Irish Shores

Each year, hundreds of endangered basking sharks gather off Ireland's west coast, swimming so close to shore that observers can nearly touch them. These gentle giants, the second-largest fish in the world, come to feed on plankton blooms visible from satellites. Conservation efforts have boosted sightings since the 1980s, making Ireland a prime destination for shark tourism. Researchers note Ireland's unique shallow coastal shelf attracts the sharks.