Importance To Humans
Historically, the basking shark has been a staple of fisheries because of its slow swimming speed, unaggressive nature and previously abundant numbers. Commercially, it was put to many uses: the flesh for food and fishmeal, the hide for leather, and its large liver (which has a high squalene content) for oil. It is currently fished mainly for its fins (for shark fin soup). Parts (such as cartilage) are also used in traditional Chinese medicine and as an aphrodisiac in Japan, further adding to demand.
As a result of rapidly declining numbers, the basking shark has been protected in some territorial waters and trade in its products is restricted in many countries under CITES. It is fully protected in the UK, Malta, Florida and USA Gulf, and since 2008, it is subject to a target fishing and landed bycatch ban within EU waters. Targeted fishing for basking sharks is also illegal in New Zealand but bycatch may be landed. As of March 2010, it has also been listed under Annex I of the CMS Migratory Sharks Memorandum of Understanding.
Once considered a nuisance along the Canadian Pacific coast, basking sharks were the target of a government eradication programme from 1945 to 1970. As of 2008, efforts are underway to determine whether any sharks still live in the area and monitor their potential recovery.
It is tolerant of boats and divers approaching it, and may even circle divers, making it an important draw for dive tourism in areas where it is common.
Read more about this topic: Basking Shark
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