Shows
Shark-CastEpisode 19 - BSS 2024 Crew Chat.Ben & Evan join Fiona and Shane at BSS HQ for a quick catch up. We get jealous hearing about what the boys were up to over the winter in Australia & Guatemala. Then what they are looking forward to this season.
2024-04-2925 minShark-CastProtecting the Basking Shark against bycatch with Jean-Luc Solandt from Marine Conservation Society- Episode 18After a little break we're back again as we gear up for another basking shark season!
Following a chat at the excellent Basking Shark Symposium, we chat to Jean-Luc Solandt from the Marine Conservation Society.
We chat about his work getting the basking shark protected from a loop hole that allowed them to be caught and landed under bycatch. Following an incident where a basking shark was caught in the Bay of Biscay, landed in Milford Haven, then transported to Bordeaux in France to be sold!
Jean-Luc now works in MPA's and we...
2024-02-2936 minShark-Cast2023 Guides Ben & Evan chat about swimming with Basking Shark and season trip highlights - Episode 17Shane talks to Ben & Evan about their season so far. Joining in April for the first time they've had a stellar season.
Lots of wildlife sightings including John Coe & Aquarius, fin whales, epic minke interactions, swimming with basking sharks. Along with our amazing trip to Mingulay & St Kilda and adventures around the Inner Hebrides.
2023-08-0726 minShark-CastDo basking sharks breach? I.e do they jump out of the water....! Episode 16Yes they do!
Rachel & Shane talk about the common question that we are asked. Do basking sharks breach?
They are the biggest shark/fish in the world to do so and there has been a couple of recent studies that have measured speed and other parameters. The researchers found that the speed basking sharks attain when they breach is similar to that of white sharks.
It is suggested that they breach for communication or courtship. Removal of parasites has also been suggested but perhaps more likely to be an ancillary benefit to the b...
2023-07-0335 minShark-CastScottish sharks. We chat to James Thorburn chat about spurdogs, flapper skate, tope, porbeagles & more! Episode 15Shock! We diverge away from basking sharks in this episode! Well....we mention them a few time!
We don't just love basking sharks, there are loads of other sharks around the Scottish coast. Including some local favorites such as the flapper skate and spurdog. Two species our guest James, has written papers on. His study was instrumental in setting up the Loch Sunart to Jura MPA for flapper skate.
The spurdogs are also close to Shane's heart as run a pioneering scuba dive to interact with them around Oban. We hear about James's study on t...
2023-06-061h 11Shark-CastHebrides & Clyde Basking Shark Research with Mauvis Gore & Rupert Ormond - Episode 14Rachel & Shane travel to the Isle of Mull from Oban to record an episode with Mauvis Gore & Rupert Ormond. Seasoned basking shark researchers who we've worked with over the years.
We talk about how they got into marine biology and basking sharks. Talking about the research in the Clyde, working with ex basking shark hunter Howard McRindle. The famous basking shark who was first tracked across the Atlantic, travelling nearly 10,000km and diving over 1200m in depth. Then onto the Hebrides studies based out of Mull & Coll, photo ID, population estimates, close following and courtship. Then of c...
2023-05-011h 03Shark-CastBasking shark hunting with Colin Speedie - Episode 13Our second part of our chat with Colin Speedie.
In this episode, we move on from his survey work and that wonderful evening spent with numerous sharks. To the history of basking shark hunting, ranging from the the olden days many centuries ago, through to the post WW2 era and then the last of the hunting in the 90's.
We hear about the romanticised hunters of the post war era including Gavin Maxwell, along with the ruthlessness of the Norwegian whaling fleets, who over the period have through to have taken over 60,000 basking sharks.
...
2023-04-0338 minShark-CastBasking Shark Surveys with Colin Speedie - Episode 12Colin Speedie is a well respected name in basking shark circles. With him conducting the bulk of early basking shark surveys around the west coast, laying groundwork for the modern scientific survey and ultimately the first marine protected area (MPA) in the world for basking sharks.
Colin is also the founder of WISE, the training scheme for education on behaviour around marine wildlife. Along with being the author of A Sea Monsters Tale, a highly recommended read on basking sharks.
We talk to him about the highs and lows of basking shark surveys, what he fo...
2023-03-0232 minShark-CastHead Guide Luke Returns - Sperm Whales, White Sharks, Hammers, Antarctica & Seychelles - Bonus Shark-Cast Episode 11Our previous head guide and all round man machine Luke, returns to Scotland for a Christmas break from his overseas job. We say job but it doesn't sound like a job to us! DISCLAIMER - if you are really down about the UK weather at the moment do not listen to this!!!!
After 6 seasons with us as head guide he scored a ridiculous job based out of the Seychelles and has been travelling the world filming amazing animals. Although he has experienced everything from sperm whales, white sharks to exploring Antarctica, he still has a big soft s...
2023-02-2032 minShark-CastOur 10 year anniversary - how it all happened! Shark-Cast Episode 10Well....10 years later we're still here and heading towards our 11th season! There are certainly a few more grey hairs and wrinkles but it's nice to reflect back on all the adventures.
Nikki & Shane join Rachel to chat about BSS beginnings then we catch up with Dr Inga Dehnet & Luke Saddler two of our previous long term staff to find out about their favourite memories and what they are doing now!
We were hoping to grab a few more people together but we didn't want to make the episode too long and the Coastal boys...
2023-02-0640 minShark-CastGlobal Basking Shark Genetics & Shark Slime with Les Noble - Episode 9How do you collect basking shark DNA!? In this episode we speak to Les Noble about his long term study into basking shark genetics.
Modern DNA techniques are revealing amazing information about basking sharks, how they are related and their migration patterns.
During our tours we have been collecting slime samples for Les and his team to help with the study. This is a fascinating and exciting discussion into this ground breaking basking shark research. How related are basking sharks within a group? Do basking sharks return to the same area every year? Does this re...
2023-01-0948 minShark-CastHow did the basking shark get it's name? Episode 8Following on from our blog post and youtube video on the subject. We've recorded a podcast chatting about the same subject!
Join us for a whistlestop worldwide basking shark tour discussing how the name came about, how the English name is different to everywhere else. How far down the rabbit hole of names, human and natural history go!?
Should we start a petition to change the name, since it was based on wrong assumptions? If so what would you call it?? Should the public be trusted not to vote Sharky McSharkFace!?
2022-12-0557 minShark-CastHappy World Basking Shark Day ? Episode 7Today is the first World Basking Shark Day!
Rachel and Shane talk about their favourite basking shark facts along with some of your best facts & experiences.
They discuss some of the highlights from our 2022 basking shark season, the great news about additional basking shark protection in Ireland and some of our previous research.
Have a listen and join in with us to celebrate all things basking sharks on world basking shark day using #worldbaskingsharkday!
2022-11-031h 02
Shark-CastBasking Sharks - Your Questions Answered!? Episode 6In this episode Rachel & Shane discuss all the questions sent in by our audience. Including some of the following;
Where do basking sharks migrate too?
How many basking sharks are in the UK?
What's the best time of year to see basking sharks?
How long do basking sharks live for?
Where do basking sharks gives birth?
Why do basking sharks breach?
Are there any known cases of basking sharks being predated by white sharks or orca?
Do basking shark smile?
and...........thanks to Jack- who would win in a fight, a whale shark or a basking shark
...
2022-05-0445 minShark-CastEpisode 5 - Filter Feeding Sharks & What Lois is gettting up to with the Maldives Manta's!In this episode Rachel & Shane have a chat about filter feeding sharks (planktivoires) e.g basking sharks, whale sharks, mega mouths, mantas etc. A quick delve into lots of questions about basking shark food, where they go in the winter, what do basking sharks eat in the winter. We also touch on some of our previous research on marine plastics around basking shark feeding areas.
Then we have a catch up with guide Lois who is working this winter in the Maldives with the Manta trust. She's having lots of fun in the sun, essentially guiding trips o...
2022-02-2853 minShark-CastBaby Basking Sharks! Life, History, Wildlife, Penguins & Baby Sharks on St Kilda! Episode 4In this episode we chat with the archaeological (Clare Henderson) and wildlife (Craig Nisbet) rangers of St Kilda, the island group which sits 100 miles away from mainland Scotland.
This rugged and isolated location has both an amazing human history along with extraordinary wildlife. It's home to a million sea birds, the highest sea cliffs & sea stacks in the UK along with being a duel UNESCO world heritage site. The island archipelago sits right out in the North Atlantic so has a well respected reputation for fearsome weather, but it's location also means it's a magnet for a w...
2022-01-261h 05Shark-CastReturn of Shark Cast! The crew review the funniest bits of summer 2021! Episode 3After a long break we return with a very funny episode! Guides Jack & Isla join ops manager Rachel & owner Shane to review the best bits of the 2022 basking shark season. Hear about some of the funny tales of our summer on the Hebridean island of Coll. How did the girls get jack to leave the toilet, did Shane ever get his wedding ring back. How good was that experience with John Coe the orca!
2021-12-2746 min
World of SharksWhat do basking sharks eat? With Shane Wasik and Rachel BrooksThis episode we are jumping fins first into the weird and mysterious life of the second-largest shark in the world - basking sharks! I am joined by Shane and Rachel from Basking Shark Scotland, an organisation on the beautiful west coast of Scotland, which happens to be one of the global hotspots to see these sharks. Over summer they spend everyday in the water with basking sharks and know a thing or two about them...together, we answer all your questions about the big beasties, including what they eat, where they go after summer, how they mate and what...
2021-11-111h 02Shark-CastShark-Cast : Episode 2Welcome back to shark-cast, coming to you from the Basking Shark Scotland headquarters in Oban, Scotland.
On this week's episode Shane and Luke have a good old reminisce about some of the highlights from trips in years past. If you have any questions or ideas for future pods, just drop us an email! info@baskinghsarkscotland.co.uk
2020-03-131h 20Shark-CastShark-Cast Episode 1Our first Episode!
On this episode we introduce the team, talk about our recent trip to Norway to swim with orca and also discuss the basking shark's new classification as 'endangered' by the IUCN.
2020-01-0755 min