The research was carried out by the Irish Basking Shark Project, whose co-ordinator, Emmett Johnston, explained why the shark had travelled so far.

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Manx Basking Shark Watch, a registered charity, is a Manx Wildlife Trust project supported by private industry, the Manx government and the Manx Lottery Trust.

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The basking shark passport profiling began in the Isle of Man in 2009 and to date, about 100 animals have been identified in the Irish Sea.

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As well as killer whales, several species of shark have been recorded in the coastal waters, including the enormous basking shark, according to the Pembrokeshire National Park Authority.

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Come in summer -- for a day walk, week walk or to finish the whole lot (about eight weeks) -- and you might see the benign fin of a basking shark cruise by the shore.

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In recent months leading wildlife experts have called for people to be more careful with their litter after a basking shark was filmed with plastic around its nose and a grey seal was photographed with plastic around its throat near Kitterland.

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