 A dead Porbeagle recently washed up in Cornwall |
Sharks and whales are being regularly detected along the Cornish coast, a marine survey has found. A predatory blue shark, minke whales and basking sharks are among the larger marine life recorded since SeaWatch SW began in mid-July.
It was started by a scientist based at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton to monitor endangered marine animals.
The sea off Gwennap Head near Land's End is monitored from dawn to dusk.
It also aims to record the numbers of Europe's most endangered seabird, the Balearic Shearwater, passing Gwennap Head.
Common dolphins, harbour porpoises and ocean sunfish have also been sighted.
Co-ordinator Dr Russell Wynn said: "The first 200 hours of the survey have produced some exciting sightings, with a peak of at least 25 basking sharks visible at one time.
"We were even lucky enough to see a predatory shark, probably a blue shark, jump clean out of the water in pursuit of mackerel, just 50 metres from the shore."
The survey is monitoring the effects of human activities on the basking shark and the team has seen sharks "being harassed" by boat users.
The survey continues until mid-October.
A dead porbeagle shark washed ashore at Gunwalloe on the Lizard on Wednesday.
It followed several unconfirmed sightings of a great white in Devon and Cornwall June and July.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust said it may have been caught in fishing gear.
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