Not basking in sunshine or having a whale of a time...

Further to my previous post regarding the decomposing Basking Shark and another caught in nets I have a little bit more information on the one caught in nets. I met up with a local fisherman yesterday who told me it was him who had accidentally caught the shark a couple of weeks ago. He estimated it at 23 feet long (about 7 metres) in length. it was dead by the time they managed to free it from the net so they had towed it out to sea and cut it loose.

Its highly unlikely that it was the substantially decomposed shark found on Newport (Pembs) Beach pictured in the previous post ...

Basking sharks dead and alive..

Holly's live shark

Shark!! She called

  (filmed by Ken) was seen on November the tenth, was about a month previous to the one caught in the net, so probably unlikely to be the same animal either. 

I would have thought that for a shark of that size to decompose to the degree of the one found on Newport Beach would take several months. certainly more than a month, so my conclusion is that they were three separate sharks. 

Taking the decomposed basker out of the picture, as it may have traveled some long distance from where it met its fate, we have two separate sharks recorded in our local waters during the winter months. Been chatting with my old mate Powell Strong on the subject and why they may be here in the winter. We think they might be feeding on the small fry that attracts hundreds of gulls in the area around Strumble Bank?

Another type of marine mega-fauna, possibly as mega as it comes in our waters! This decomposing whale has stranded on Newgale Beach. Too far gone to be certain, but from its size (about 6 metres apparently) its probably a  small Minke or juvenile Fin Whale. 

Sad, but glad I don't have to dispose of it, the stink must be horrendous. I would strongly advise all dog owners to stop their pooches rolling on it if they don't want the smell of manky Minke to spoil their Christmas dinner!