Country diary: Ten tonnes of solid muscle, basking sharks are booming here once again

Port Erin Bay, Isle of Man: A few years ago they disappeared from these shores, but with food stocks on the up, they’ve made a magnificent returnNot long ago, my encounters with basking sharks were pretty close up. When a scientist researching them off the Isle of Man needed help, with my experience of driving inflatable ribs, I was tasked with steering his small boat up to a 10-tonne shark, closely and carefully enough for him to jab a small tracking device into its dorsal fin.It was hair-raising work – they are solid muscle, capable of smashing our hull. Nevertheless, I guided the boat gently alongside, and the device was placed. Like many others before it, the shark swam off unconcerned. Continue reading...