Sharks spotted between Findhorn and Burghead

A NUMBER of basking sharks were spotted just off the coast between Burghead and Findhorn on Friday, September 20, by a light aircraft crew conducting a beach pollution survey.

The calm seas and sunny weather meant that at least four sharks were clearly visible in the shallow water.

Basking sharks are slow-moving filter feeders and can be threatened by fishing gear and plastic pollution. Found worldwide, they are often spotted on the west coast of Scotland but have occasionally been known to visit the Moray Firth.

They are listed by the IUCN as a vulnerable species.

The sharks were spotted during a survey for the SCRAPbook Project, a joint initiative by the Moray Firth Partnership and the UK Civil Air Patrol which aims to survey Scottish coastlines for plastic pollution using volunteer pilots and observers.

Photos from the surveys are used to build a map of pollution ‘hotspots’ in order to track long-term trends and aid cleanup by volunteers.

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