Catch of the day 500kg monster
Weighing 500 kilos, this 14-foot shark was caught by fishermen off Lambay Island near Skerries.
Thursday October 15 2009
THIS massive basking shark which was caught up in a fisherman's net in the Irish Sea yesterday will be served up as an exotic dish at a number of restaurants this weekend.
The 500kg shark was taken on board by fishermen who were trawling for prawns off Lambay Island near Skerries, north county Dublin yesterday.
The 14-foot long shark, nicknamed a "sunfish" due to its habit of swimming just below the water's surface, became entangled in the trawler's nets and died about an hour or two before skipper Ian Milne of MVF Celtic Venture hauled the massive fish on board.
Basking sharks were once fished off these shores for their oil up until about 20 years ago. Although the EU has placed a moratorium on fishing them in Northern Ireland and the UK, they are not protected as an endangered species in the Republic.
While the shark will fetch about €10 a kilo at Doran's Pier of Howth, where it is now being sold to the public and local restaurants, basking sharks are not commercially viable for fisherman, according to owner Sean Doran.
"It's not high value and very awkward to get on board," he said.
However, shark is a bit of a delicacy in some countries and orders were coming in as soon as the massive haul was reported by locals, he added.
A record number of basking sharks have recently been tagged off the Donegal coast, including 50 in just three days in June.
Basking sharks are not a danger to swimmers, like their cousins the Great White shark, although they could capsize a boat or sailboat if swimming high enough in the water.
- Allison Bray
Irish Independent
