The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the world’s second-largest fish, easily recognized by its enormous, gaping mouth and habit of filter-feeding on plankton near the ocean’s surface. Historically, basking sharks were targeted for their large livers, which yield valuable oil, as well as for their fins, meat, and cartilage. The main countries involved in basking shark fishing have included the United Kingdom (particularly Scotland), Ireland, Norway, and Japan, with smaller fisheries in Canada and China. Peak commercial exploitation occurred from the mid-18th to the mid-20th century, especially in the northeast Atlantic. Overfishing and the species’ slow reproductive rate led to dramatic population declines, prompting strict regulations and, in many regions, outright bans on basking shark fishing. Today, most countries have ceased commercial harvesting, and the basking shark is now protected under various international agreements, but its past exploitation remains a significant chapter in the history of global fisheries.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.