Huge 8m-long sharks spotted off UK coast as tourists warned to ‘keep distance’

A shoal of basking sharks up to 8m long have been spotted close to a Scottish Highland coast.

The group of around ten were seen off the Moray coastline by RNLI volunteer Graham Campbell, who was providing cover as a mechanic in Buckie last week.

Using his drone, and staying at a distance from the sharks so as not to disturb them, Graham snapped several photos of the sharks in the clear blue water.

Graham said: “I was watching from the shore for a few days and saw groups of them – some were spread out and some were close to the shore.

“It was nice weather, calm and sunny, so I managed to get the drone out and get some pictures of them.

“I kept the distance up to not disturb the sharks and snapped some photos of them.

“There were groups of twos, threes and fours – a good few of them spread out all along the Moray Firth.

“There are usually one or two there, but they seem to be coming in in larger numbers over the last few years. I was down last year to try and see them, but they were too far from shore.”

The shoal contained sharks up to 8m long – but despite their intimidating appearance, basking sharks pose no risk to humans, with a diet consisting mostly of plankton.

Graham says he was “chuffed” to have taken the stunning shots – and says he will return to see the sharks again in future.

“The water was so calm and clear, and it was a nice, sunny day – it couldn’t have been better conditions to get some photos,” he said.

“I was chuffed when I saw the photos. It can be really hard to get the dorsal fins popping up in a photo.

“It’s really good to see them in the Moray Firth.”