Rare drone footage of basking shark behavior off Clare

Rare drone footage shows basking sharks engaging in what is believed to be courtship behavior off the coast of Co Clare.

The images, captured last month, show up to nine sharks circling in a rigid inflatable boat piloted by researchers from the Irish Basking Shark Group.

“It was methodical, orchestrated behavior, like they were doing synchronized swimming,” said Simon Berrow of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and the IBSG.

The second largest fish in the world is often seen foraging in this area in the spring.

“But we realized right away that they weren’t feeding. This was something else, something special,” Dr. Berrow said.

Basking sharks are harmless plankton feeders.

They are unprotected in Irish waters, but the IBSG is working to change that.

Little is known about their courtship behavior and breeding cycles.

Nose-to-tail tracking, parallel swimming, and breaking are theorized to be related to courtship.

The research team collected several DNA samples during the encounter.

“This spring we collected more than 60 shark samples in West Clare. So having a new opportunity to take more samples, in the same place but at a different time of year, was too good to lose,” said Dr. Berrow.

“Using the drone, we were also able to get a fantastic perspective of the shark from above. We were on a 6m rib and we estimated that they were 6-8m in length. It was such a humbling experience. Everyone on board will remember it.”