Irish Basking Shark Group

PRESS RELEASE |
124 Important Shark and Ray Areas Identified Across the European Atlantic

Available here: sharkrayareas.org/124-importan...

© Lars von Ritter Zahony | Ocean Image Bank

@SharkRayFund @_BMUKN @rewild @BonnConvention #shark #ray #chimaera #ISRA #conservation #marine

We are delighted to have contributed to this compendium of Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) in the European Atlantic, lending more evidence to the importance of Irish waters, not just for our focus species the Basking Shark...

YouTube video by Swimming Head Productions Irish Basking Shark Group - International Basking Shark Conference 2025

Reflecting on the International Basking Shark Conference last month, we are all still so inspired by the energy and passion captured in one weekend.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMCg...

We hope he gets to show off his shark knowledge every time he wears it!

Finding a group of scientists who love and study and talk about a particular thing, and in this case when it's something my kid has gotten into, is still one of my favorite things about social media.

I'm very proud to have contributed to this important work with @irishbaskingshark.bsky.social

One of the best conferences I've ever been too (but I'm probably biased here). So proud to have put this together with the amazing @irishbaskingshark.bsky.social team.

A big thanks to the @iucnshark.bsky.social ISRA Team for all their work and coordination over the past months!

Download the full report here: sharkrayareas.org/download/eur...

as well as the the urgent need to include this collected knowledge into the appropriate protection and management of our seas and biodiversity. as discussed by Nicholas Payne and Pádraic Fogarty in this RTE Prime Time article:

lnkd.in/eB8J7v46

...but numerous other elasmobranchs such as blue sharks, porbeagles, tope and angel sharks. This work also highlights how many species we are yet to study and understand in our waters,

We are delighted to have contributed to this compendium of Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) in the European Atlantic, lending more evidence to the importance of Irish waters, not just for our focus species the Basking Shark...

as well as our sponsors:

@atu-ie.bsky.social, Customized Animal Tracking Solutions (CATS), Wildlife Computers, @lotektelemetry.bsky.social, @innovasea.com, @fairseas.ie, @heritagecouncil.ie and Mayo County Council.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go leir

We’d like to thank our co-hosts: @npwsireland.bsky.social and The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group

We are excited to see what this conference leads to, watch this space!!

Thank you to The @thefsbi.bsky.social for funding the filming of this video.

Thank you to Marcus Hogan and Simon Berrow for the basking shark footage.

We have a series of videos from our conference that we will be sharing, all from Swimming Heads Production, this first video gives insight to the conference as a whole. Thank you to all our speakers and workshop coordinators for giving such engaging talks.

We want to thank all attendees and our sponsors for helping us make this conference so memorable.

Thank you to @swimminghead.co.uk for capturing this conference so perfectly.

A wide range of topics were discussed, with sessions on conservation, behaviour, methods and data, biomechanics, genetics, physiology and distribution.

To say that we achieved these aims would be an understatement. We had over 130 people attend in person and a further 20 online. Across the weekend we had 35 presentations, with research from across the globe being represented.

The goals of this conference were:

1) to create a global discussion of ongoing research

2) to encourage international collaboration and data sharing

3) to highlight the unique cultural history of the species.

YouTube video by Swimming Head Productions Irish Basking Shark Group - International Basking Shark Conference 2025

Reflecting on the International Basking Shark Conference last month, we are all still so inspired by the energy and passion captured in one weekend.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMCg...

We had a fantastic time filming at the @irishbaskingshark.bsky.social international conference! Lovely to catch up with friends & celebrate new shark research. Followed by filming with Dr Sharon Lynch in ever-stunning Cork at Roaringwater Bay. Films coming soon!

Fáilte! We love to hear about the enthusiasm our next generation has for these amazing sharks!

Check out the latest installment of Q&As with the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group's early career scientists Guido Leurs & Jasmin Graham, featured in the newest issue of our newsletter, Shark News!

See here: www.iucnssg.org/shark-news.h... or view here: 78c70730.flowpaper.com/IUCNSSCSSGSh...

After months of preparation this weekend we successfully hosted the second International Basking shark conference at ATU Galway followed by our Ocean Literacy day event on Achill Island, cohosted by:
@npwsireland.bsky.social & Irish Whale and Dolphin Group

I have never been more proud to work with @irishbaskingshark.bsky.social! After a compressed planning process, we held two packed days of fintastic basking shark talks. I've never felt more inspire or excited to continue basking shark research and advocacy.

We'd also like to thank our Sponsors:
Atlantic Technological University
Customized Animal Tracking Solutions (CATS)
innovaseas
Lotek
Fair Seas Ireland
The Heritage Council

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go leir ☘️

But for now I will leave you with this quote from fellow IBSG member @divingwsharks.bsky.social in her closing address “conferences are planned by a small committee but made special by everyone who attends”.

We have so much more to say and as a group we hope to continue the momentum following on from the conference.

From hearing the inspiring talks on the global basking shark research effort to celebrating our deep cultural connection with basking sharks on Achill Island. This weekend we bonded over our shared love and fascination for this incredible species.