UK holidaymakers 'have nothing to fear' from shark sighting

A great white shark could be hunting off the British coast, but today experts said even if claimed sightings of the legendary predator are confirmed, the waters are safe.

At the weekend, holidaymakers claimed to have seen a shark, like a great white, off the coast of Cornwall and after analysing footage experts could not rule out the possibility it was the notorious hunter, immortalised in the 1975 Steven Spielberg movie Jaws.

Richard Peirce, chairman of the Shark Trust, said the footage looked more likely to be a Mako or Porbeagle shark but there was a chance it could be a great white.

He has investigated 70 claimed UK great white shark sightings and found that 10% are credible but the evidence remains anecdotal.

He believes the UK has always had the occasional great white visiting and therefore there is nothing to fear now that was not there before.

“If you believe, as I do, that they are an occasional visitor then they would have been coming here for tens of thousands of years and no one has ever been hurt,” he said.

“If I am right, and one day we have conclusive proof of a great white, it doesn’t mean they have arrived, it will just be the first time they have been recorded and therefore the waters are no more dangerous the day after than the day before.”

Mr Peirce said the species is rare and the chance of ever seeing one in the UK was extremely remote.

He added that the shark is a nomadic fish and often travels thousands of miles.

The great white is the world’s largest known predatory fish and can be found in all the major oceans.

It can reach lengths of about six metres and prefers waters with a temperature of between 12C and 24C.

The main populations are found off the southern coasts of Australia, off South Africa, California and Mexico and the species is classed as vulnerable and endangered.

Despite featuring in Jaws, great whites are not known to typically target humans.

Experts believe the majority of attacks on people are either “test biting” or a case of mistaken identity where they believe a person is a seal, their preferred prey.

Mr Peirce said records of great white attacks are difficult to keep as the victim is often unsure what species attacked them.

Some sources claim there have been 63 deaths worldwide since records began in the mid 19th century and 232 non-fatal attacks.

Biologist Doctor Douglas Long said the great white shark’s “role as a menace is exaggerated” and more people are killed in America each year by dogs than have been killed by great white sharks in a century.

Changes in water temperature are a possible theory for attracting different sea life to the UK but divers said this summer is unseasonably cold.

Brian Allen, a diver of 24 years, runs Aquanauts Dive Centre in Plymouth, one of two National Geographic dive centres in the South West.

He said: “It is thought that changes in the sea temperature have encouraged such species as trigger fish to arrive.

“Obviously any changes will change the marine life, but this year the water temperature has been colder and in recent years it has stayed at a pretty consistent level.”

Surfers are considered those most at risk from great white attacks as from underneath the waves the board can resemble the shape of a seal.

Dave Foster, of the British Surfing Association, is based at St Ives where the sighting took place but said he doesn’t believe it will scare people away.

“Even if it is proved that this sighting is credible it won’t put us off,” he said.

“Even in parts of the world where the sharks are known to be and surfers have been attacked it hasn’t stopped people. I can’t see any problems for the sport.”

Malcolm Bell, Chief Executive of South West Tourism, agreed and said there has never been a shark attack in British waters.

“The only thing about this is it may take the edge off parents enjoying their holidays if they’re constantly checking the water,” he said.

“I can’t imagine anyone is going to be put off coming here on holiday and people see these stories each year so the economic impact on tourism will be very marginal.”