The foreboding theme tune of Jaws was likely playing through the minds of Cornish beach-goers this weekend. At around 11am on Sunday (February 19), witnesses claimed to have spotted an ‘unusually’ large fin off the coast of Gunwalloe near Porthleven.
The onlookers, who were around 30 metres away, believed the fin to be larger than the average basking shark (not an uncommon sight in these waters). They said it was likely to be a blue shark and advised swimmers to proceed with ‘caution’.
A woman who took an image of the fin told Cornwall Live: ‘The photo was taken at around 11am at Gunwalloe from about 30 metres... I can’t say what type of shark it is but doesn’t look like the average basking shark, so thought I would just mention its presence just in case. Either way, dangerous or not, it’s unusual to see any type of shark inshore this time of year and with a fin that size.’
It hasn’t been confirmed that the fin belongs to a blue shark. Others have speculated that the creature was actually a dolphin or a seal. However, it wouldn’t be the first time that a blue shark has visited the county. Last summer one was seen at Trelissick and in August the Penzance Coastguard went to the aid of a snorkeller who had sustained a suspected shark bite. That said, British Sea Fishing reassures swimmers that attacks are ‘extremely rare’.
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