On International Shark Protection Day, Irish conservationists and scientists are calling on the Government to provide legal protection to basking sharks in Irish waters
The Social Democrats have introduced a bill to amend the Wildlife Act, making it an offence to disturb or harass this endangered species.
But now campaigners want to make it an offence to intentionally or recklessly injure, disturb or harass this endangered species. "20% of the global shark population inhabit our waters and it is vital they are afforded the same legal protection as we see in UK waters and around Europe. The amendment to the Wildlife Act is urgently needed.
The basking shark has a long historical association with coastal communities along the western seaboard and was hunted in Irish waters for its valuable liver oil. Emmet Callaghan’s grandfather was a shark fisherman in Achill in the 1950s and 1960s. "In the past four years we’ve started to see a steady increase in sharks returning from two or three right up to 60 this summer."
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