Basking sharks on the rise in Scotland

EDINBURGH, Scotland, May 31 (UPI) -- The number of basking sharks residing in the area around Scotland's Hebrides archipelago has more than doubled during the last five years, researchers say.

Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust researchers say they found that while less than 100 basking sharks lived in the Western Scotland locale in 2003, 250 members of the species were found there in 2007, The Scotsman said Saturday.

Trust biodiversity officer Susannah Calderan said while the numbers are not concrete evidence of a long-term population increase, the boost in the number of basking sharks is a sight to behold.

"We have a good population of basking sharks that seem to be thriving and this is a really good time to be seeing them," she said.

"We think they are on the increase but it's difficult to say if it's a long-term trend or a blip."

The Scotsman said the increased number of basking sharks in the area comes after the animals were officially protected under law, allowing them to be protected from fishermen.