Groundbreaking Footage Captures First-Ever Boat Strike on Endangered Shark

In a world-first, researchers have captured video of a basking shark, an endangered species, being struck by a boat off the coast of Ireland. The footage, obtained mere hours after tagging the shark in April, sheds light on the growing threat of vessel strikes to large marine animals like sharks.

While vessel strikes involving whales are a well-documented occurrence in the maritime industry, there is less known about how vessel strikes impact shark populations.

Using a device akin to a FitBit and a connected camera, scientists from Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center gathered crucial data on the impact of boat strikes. “This is the first ever direct observation of a ship strike on any marine megafauna that we’re aware of,” said lead author Taylor Chapple. The tagged female shark, measuring about 7 meters, was hit while feeding at the water’s surface and immediately swam to deeper waters—a significant change from its previously observed behavior.

(Skip to the 2:00 minute mark for the vessel strike in the video below)

Though researchers are uncertain if the shark recovered from the strike, data showed it didn’t resume normal feeding or behavior during the monitoring period. The findings, recently published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, underscore the urgent need for measures to mitigate the risk of vessel strikes.

Basking sharks, the second-largest fish species, are frequently found off the coast of Ireland, one of their few remaining aggregation sites. These filter-feeders are particularly vulnerable to boat strikes due to their surface-feeding habits. Unlike whales, basking sharks often sink when killed, complicating the assessment of mortality rates.

Ireland’s Wildlife Act began protecting basking sharks in 2022, and the nation recently established its first National Marine Park in County Kerry, safeguarding 70,000 acres of land and sea. The researchers were conducting a study within the park’s boundaries when they tagged the shark.

Data from the tag revealed the shark was behaving normally until it made a sudden evasive move, followed by the keel of a boat cutting across its back. Video footage showed visible skin damage but no bleeding or open wounds. “The fact that a shark we fitted our ‘Fitbit’ to was struck in this area within a few hours underlines just how vulnerable these animals are to boats,” said co-author Nicholas Payne from Trinity College Dublin.

This incident highlights the need for further research on the interactions between boats and basking sharks in Ireland’s waters. “Given that Ireland is one of the only locations globally where basking sharks are still observed persistently, addressing such questions will be critical,” said Alexandra McInturf, a research associate at Oregon State University.

The study’s additional authors include David Cade and Jeremy Goldbogen of Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station, and Nick Massett of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.

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