European sharks?

Actually I would suggest you switch the whaleshark to Asia(Philippines) and go with the indigenous shark of Australia, the Port Jackson or the grey nurse (raggie) which is hitting threatened levels. The PJ shark's mating is a mass orgy with cool eggs and if you find one that is about to hatch, it's very cool. Ok they are not man eaters or very big but hey they are sharks.

The whaleshark industry in Donsol is something worth talking about again and again. I'd say try the threshers as well but they are few and getting fewer and it's pretty deep diving to get them. You don't have the time I don't think to get decent shots.

Wait australia isn't a northern continent. If you want to impress, try the salmon shark in Canada/Alaska, which is technically north enough to be called the Artic continent.

Yeah Porthkerris is a bit on a Donkey trap, but baskers are seen there - just not on the days I seem to visit!! Cornwall's historically been a great place for spotting them, but until last year there had been a huge drop off in numbers. Theory was that the sharks were moving north to cooler waters (IoM & Scotland), but then last year they reappeared in Cornwall in their hundreds. I still managed to miss them though!!

You can actually see them as early as the beginning of May - it really depends on when the plankton bloom arrives - they just may not be at the surface. Also the North Coast appears to be a LOT more reliable for spotting them than the Lizard or the South coast. I would say IoM is still the best bet though.

It's a huge burden of love to attempt to spot any speices of 'sexy' shark in European waters, let alone film them. It's not impossible, but you only really have a window of 3 months when the weather is reliable enough. I got some footage of Blue's last year and I've got 3 weeks lined up this year so wish me luck, cause I'm really gonna need it!!

Cheers, Simon

Yes the same reasoning why the french tested nuclear bombs in the south pacific... because the islands are considered french. I have found memories of the Canaries though so I prefer the big mammals in the Azores, so hopefully no nuclear testing will go on around there.

But cleverly enough we don´t have any nuclear bombs in Spain (well, don´t ask Mr Bush, he may find some!! )

But cleverly enough we don´t have any nuclear bombs in Spain (well, don´t ask Mr Bush, he may find some!! )

About the same chance as finding a live shark in Spanish waters huh?

Simonspear, hundreds?!? Are those sightings or actual identified sharks? BIIIGGG difference. And I've heard the same said for La Manche and Sennen Cove. Anyhow if I do go again, my camera gear won't make it past heathrow the normal way I carry my stuff.

About the same chance as finding a live shark in Spanish waters huh?

Touché!! besides angel sharks is really difficult to see any other sharks Spain is in the top five countries finningwise...

How about Porbeagles? Didn't Simon Spear or someone mention there is cage diving with Porbeagles at some point?!?!

Clarification: Northern continents for my purposes are all but Antarctica. I don't need big and toothy, just a well rounded bunch that will help me tell the story that am after. Maybe I could use an endemic because this is a big picture, oceanographic, climatologic piece, and a guy who doesn't leave might good contrast. What are the specifics Drew?

What's with the porbeagles? That sound cool!

The world according to IOnature

port jackson sharks, endemic to Australia, gathers for mating in large groups. Can't remember when... best place I found them was in Jervis Bay but I also saw them in Maroumba Beach and other shore dives around Syd.

I like that! Can I use it?

What's with this sardine deal?

cw

Back to topic..

European sharks are mostly not big, less 1m, typically dogfish species.

I have photographed several with luck here in Norway. If you need big teeth and so on I'd suggest the greenland shark, reportedly the biggest meateating shark alive - 8.5m. You might find one around Spitsbergen with some smelly beef?

I've also heard you can do a trip to Greenland and dive with them under the ice.

Espen

Hey Espen,

Thanks for the tip. Do you know of anyone who has done it and who they used as an outfitter?

chris

Hey Espen,

Thanks for the tip. Do you know of anyone who has done it and who they used as an outfitter?

 

chris

Dogfish or greenland sharks?

E.

greenland sharks

Hey Espen,

Thanks for the tip. Do you know of anyone who has done it and who they used as an outfitter?

chris

Chris, Greenland has a place where anglers go to fish them and while they state they support catch and release, I've only ever seen pics of fishermen with 2 or 3 dead sharks on ice from that place. Western Greenland somewhere, called UmaXXXXXXXsomething. I've been planning on going for years but am still boycotting greenland over the "subsistance whaling" of fin whales. Aborginal hunts with harpoons and motorized boats... real traditional!

Then someone told me they found the sharks in the St Lawrence River in Quebec and people swim with them. However, my taste for water colder than 55°F has waned considerably so I'll be happy with photos for now.

What's with what sardines?

greenland sharks

The only operator i know is:

http://www.arctickingdom.com

They cater for film crews.

Or.. you can organize your own depending on your budget.

Espen

The only operator i know is:

 

http://www.arctickingdom.com

 

They cater for film crews.

 

Or.. you can organize your own depending on your budget.

 

Espen

I forgot to mention.. Greenland isn't Europe is it..

Espen

Oh crap!... It probably isn't Europe. I think the St. Laurance is probably the best bet for greenies as far as I can tell but Canada is even less Europe then Greenland is. But who ever said that TV has anything to do with reality. "The world according to ionature", you know

Oh crap!... It probably isn't Europe. I think the St. Laurance is probably the best bet for greenies as far as I can tell but Canada is even less Europe then Greenland is. But who ever said that TV has anything to do with reality. "The world according to ionature", you know

However there are other shark species. Dogfish is one of the most important species as far as commercial interest are concerned. There are also less easy species like lantern sharks and thos that aren't sharks Chimaeras.

Espen

Hi all

The Porbeagles are there, but apart from line catching them they are almost impossible to get close enough to a boat to film. They are very skittish sharks. I'm going to be spending a week this year attempting to film them in addition to gathering data for review by scientists. We're also going to be tagging at least 1 porbeagle with a 180 day satelite tag. Hopefully this should be able to help the scientists to find out a bit more about them as very little is known.

Last year a pilot project was run to attempt to cage dive with Blue's in Cornwall. It worked with around a 50% success rate on spotting them. This year there is a bigger project running, but it's still only like 200 places for the whole summer. I'm not sure if any places are still available but if anyone is interested then I can find out for them or let them know the details to contact the organisers directly. It's a great day out, but from a filming point of view it's very challenging. The vis is only going to be a couple of meters at most and you'll be black and blue with bruises after getting teabagged in the cage!

Have you thought about Tope? They can grow up to a couple of meters in length and can be found all around Europe.

If I can help in any way then just let me know

Cheers, Simon

I believe european dogfish population is endangered or at least threatened now... would be nice to do a piece on them.

I should just mention that the Blue's are only from late July onward, so not any good for IONature's deadline

Tope can be seen in inshore waters in April and May. I've only ever seen 1 before and it was a fleeting encounter - so they may not be ideal either

I guess the trouble is that the shark diving industry in Europe is very small scale and not very reliable. Hopefully things will change in the future - as long as there are still sharks around to see!

Drew when I said there were hundreds of Baskers in Cornwall last year I really should have said that there were hundreds of sightings. I don't have any info as to how many individual sharks, but the largest gathering spotted was around 20 or so I think.

Cheers, Simon