THE FIRST basking shark of the season has been spotted near Newlyn.
The shark, which was swimming 8m below the surface of the sea, was seen by scuba divers on Sunday near Roskilly beach.
The sighting has surprised wildlife experts because the giant plankton-feeding creatures are not usually seen off the Cornish coast until May.
The divers posted details of the shark, which they saw only 50m from the shore, online at the Wildlife Trusts designated basking shark site, http://baskingsharks.wildlifetrusts.org.
Joan Edwards, head of Living Seas for the Wildlife Trusts, said the sighting was a reminder of "the amazing wildlife living in our oceans", and urged other marine enthusiasts to share information on their finds, which could help protect sea species.
"Collecting data on the movements and distribution of basking sharks will provide essential understanding on how the marine environment is being affected by climate change," she said. "This enables conservationists to better inform decision-makers who are considering conservation action."
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN