JAW DROPPING SIGHT SPOTTED IN FREEPORT FLEETWOOD MARINA BY LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER
1 April 2015
by Visit Blackpool
Staff at Freeport Fleetwood have called in the services of a local marine biologist, after a suspect fin was caught on camera in Fleetwood Marina.
A local photographer, Steve Hark from Poulton-Le-Fylde, spotted something fishy in the water, whilst taking photos at the shopping centre.
Mr S.Hark said: “At first I was cross as I thought it was some rubbish that had been dropped in the water, but then it disappeared and came up again. I did a double take: it was a shark fin. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”
John Magee, centre manager said: “At first we thought Steve was pulling our leg but it wasn’t until we saw the photo that we thought there might be some truth in it. We know that the marina is 4 star gold standard water quality, so maybe it was visiting us for a bite of lunch? We have had all kinds of visitors coming to the centre over the years, but a shark is a first!”
The Management Team at Freeport Fleetwood called in the services of Isla Uffish, marine biologist at the University of Prankaster to examine the photographic evidence. Isla Uffish, said: “The waters around Fleetwood are very rich and bio-diverse, which often attracts large predators. People think there aren’t any sharks in the waters around the UK, but that’s not true. We have large populations of sharks and rays, there are about 50 species that have been recorded.
“At first I would have presumed a basking shark, which are large, herbivorous sharks that feed on plankton. After studying the photo I’m excited as this looks like the Oceanic White Tip, which can grow up to 13ft. One was suspected of being seen off Dorset last year, but I’ve never heard of them coming this far north before.”
Staff at Freeport Fleetwood have now set up a shark watch rota, with members of the security team keeping watch over the marina for an hour a day on their rounds. If anyone spots the fin they can send photos or log their sightings on the centre’s Twitter @FleetwoodOutlet or their Facebook page.