The Manx Basking Shark Watch, a Manx Wildlife Trust project, is delighted to have the support of the Isle of Man Bank, to help with this year’s scientific research. The Isle of Man Bank has sponsored a new generation of satellite tag, which will be deployed on basking sharks this summer for the first time in the Isle of Man. Once attached to the basking shark, these tags will relay information about the shark’s position in almost real time. This can then be uploaded to a website, so the public can follow the shark and see where it was a few days previously. It is hoped that the Manx Basking Shark Watch can deploy ten of these tags in 2013.
The tags are expensive and each one that can be sponsored is a huge help for the charity. The Isle of Man Bank have chosen to sponsor a tag as part of their community Investment Programme and John Lindon, Head of Community Investment said ‘the Isle of Man is leading the way in basking shark research and conservation, Isle of Man Bank is proud to support this important conservation project’. The charity offers each sponsor the opportunity to ‘name’ the shark that they have sponsored and the Isle of Man Bank have chosen a unique way to decide on the name; they have enlisted the help of Braddan Primary School. All the children thought of a suggestion, which each class then voted on. The winning entries from each class were then submitted and a final selection made. So, this summer there will be a tagged basking shark known as ‘Finly’ who anyone can follow on its journey through Manx waters and beyond.
Eleanor Stone, Marine Officer for the Manx Wildlife Trust said ‘We are really happy to welcome Isle of Man Bank on board our new basking shark tagging project and are delighted that they have chosen to support our efforts in learning more about this fascinating creature. To have the help, support and enthusiasm of the children at Braddan School is an added bonus!’
Keep an eye out in the press and on the Manx Basking Shark Watch website (www.manxbaskingsharkwatch.com) and facebook pages for more details about when we have deployed the tags and how to follow the sharks.
