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Basking Shark
LamniformesAttack Relevant

Basking Shark

Cetorhinus maximus

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Max Length

12m

Overview

The second-largest fish on Earth. A passive filter feeder that swims slowly with its enormous mouth agape, straining plankton. Completely harmless to humans. Seasonally aggregates in productive coastal waters.

Sources:static

Recorded incidents involving the basking shark

Recorded

7

Fatal

2

Fatality rate

28.6%

Years

1899–2008

Top countries

Years with most incidents

Counts are based on the species field of the Global Shark Attack File. Identifications by witnesses are often uncertain; treat figures as recorded incidents, not authoritative totals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks have been recorded involving the basking shark?
7 incidents in the Global Shark Attack File mention the basking shark, of which 2 were fatal (28.6%). Note that witness species identifications are often uncertain, so this is the count of recorded incidents.
Where do most basking shark incidents occur?
The countries with the most recorded basking shark incidents are Scotland, United States.
Is the basking shark dangerous to humans?
The basking shark is considered relevant to human-shark incidents and has been recorded in the Global Shark Attack File. As with any large shark, encounters in the wild should be avoided.
Where does this species data come from?
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed taxonomy and published references. Incident data is sourced from the Global Shark Attack File and joined to species records by name match.
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