Identify large sharks in the UK

1 Common thresher alopias vulpinus 

• Max length 7.6m (usually 2–5m)
• UK range All around Britain, but mainly to the west and in the Channel
• Look for Huge tail; may breach
• Reporting rate **

2 Blue shark Prionace glauca

• Max length 3.8m (usually up to 2.5m)
• UK range All around Britain, but mainly in the south-west and South Wales
• Look for Slim body, long snout, bluish above
• Reporting rate **

3 Tope Galeorhinus galeus

• Max length 2m (usually up to 1.5m)
• UK range Common around UK, particularly off West Wales
• Look for Slim body, triangular dorsal fin
• Reporting rate ***

4 Great white shark Carcharodon carcharias

• Max length 7.2m
• UK range Potentially credible sightings (though very few) along our western shores
• Look for Large size, conical snout, clear line separating white and grey along flanks.
• ‘Sightings’ often of misidentified basking sharks
• Reporting rate *

5 Porbeagle Lamna nasus

• Max length 3.5m
• UK range All around Britain, but hotspots are Devon, Cornwall and northern Scotland
• Look for Stout, stocky body
• Reporting rate **

6 Shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus

• Max length 4m (usually up to 3.4m)
• UK range All around Britain, but mostly in the west
• Look for Stocky body, bluish above
• Reporting rate *

7 Smooth hammerhead Sphyrna zygaena

• Max length 5m (usually up to 3m)
• UK range Very rare: dead specimens found in Devon, Cornwall and South Wales
• Look for Hammer-shaped head
• Reporting rate *