Over 700 sightings of the world’s second largest fish were recorded by the wildlife tour operator, Basking Shark Scotland and members of the public, between April and October this year. The majority of the encounters took place near the islands of Mull, Tiree and Coll; all being established hotspots for sightings of these mysterious creatures, along with a variety of cetaceans. Just 172 Basking Sharks were spotted in 2013, with 250 documented last year. According to Basking Shark Scotland, 2015 has been their most plentiful year for sightings.

These colossal fish can grow to 11 metres in length and weigh up to 7 tonnes, yet feed only on vast quantities of microscopic plankton, consumed through their equally vast mouths; which remain open most of the time. Their movements are primarily controlled by the location of plankton blooms, which in turn, develop from the meeting of cold and warm waters. The considerable fluctuations in annual plankton growth go some way to explain the pronounced decreases and increases in sightings of this species each year, with Scotland’s cool, dynamic waters being a haven for these primitive organisms – especially during the summer months as the currents warm up.

Now a protected species, they were hunted as recently as 1994 for their oil-rich livers. Historically, the oil has been used for a multitude of commerical purposes: as a fuel used in lamps, to an ingredient in cosmetics and lubricants.