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Huge Shark Spotted Off Donegal Is a Basking Shark

Footage from a family charter points to plankton-rich waters attracting these gentle filter feeders.

Overview

  • A family aboard Northwest Charters near Aranmore Island saw a shark estimated at roughly 30 to 35 feet, according to skipper John Paul Baska.
  • Video shows the tail churning the water and a tall dorsal fin slicing the surface, which prompted brief fears of a predator close to shore.
  • The animal was identified in reports as a basking shark, a plankton feeder generally regarded as harmless to people.
  • Baska said several sharks were in the area with plenty of plankton, matching typical feeding conditions off Ireland’s northwest coast.
  • Outlets shared the clip based on eyewitness footage and estimates, with no scientific measurement reported and no injuries noted.