Basking sharks are among the most recognisable species in Irish waters, yet many of the risks they face remain poorly understood. From bycatch and vessel interactions to surface pressures and climate-related changes, there is still significant uncertainty around how these factors affect the species across different regions.
To help address this, Marine Beacon is bringing together insights from a workshop held at the 2025 International Conference on Basking Sharks and opening the discussion to a wider group of stakeholders.
The workshop highlighted a number of recurring challenges, including limited data on bycatch events, uncertainty around when and where risks are greatest, and the need for practical, economically viable mitigation approaches. It also reinforced the importance of working closely with industry to improve reporting and develop effective solutions.
Building on this, the Marine Beacon Digital Platform provides a space to explore these issues further. The discussion includes a summary of the workshop findings and invites contributions through a short survey and a set of open questions. These focus on areas such as research priorities, potential mitigation measures and the value of a targeted workshop on basking shark protection.
This is an opportunity to reflect on current knowledge, highlight gaps and share perspectives from across research, policy and industry. Explore the discussion and contribute your perspective!