Yesterday morning Falmouth Coastguard was informed that basking sharks were swimming inshore close to St Mawes on the south coast, heading towards the Lizard.
Several sharks of this type are seen off the south-west coast every summer, usually when a spell of hot weather raises the sea’s surface temperature.
Although they can be bigger than a double decker bus in length – Ken Bazeley of Falmouth Coastguards reported that the largest one spotted was about 6m(20ft) – the sharks are harmless.