Basking shark  (Cetorhinus maximus)

By-catch: In the fishing industry, the part of the catch made up of non-target species.
Copepods: Large and diverse group of minute marine and freshwater crustaceans belonging to the subclass Copepoda. They usually have an elongated body and a forked tail.
Dorsal fin: In fish, the unpaired fin found on the back of the body.
Hibernation: A winter survival strategy in which an animal's metabolic rate slows down and a state of deep sleep is attained. Whilst hibernating, animals survive on stored reserves of fat that they have accumulated in summer.
Ovoviviparous: Method of reproduction whereby the egg shell is weakly formed and young hatch inside the mother, they are nourished by their yolk sac and then born.
Pectoral fins: In fish, the pair of fins that are found one on each side of the body just behind the gills. They are generally used for balancing and braking.
Plankton: Aquatic organisms that drift with water movements; may be either phytoplankton (plants), or zooplankton (animals).

1. IUCN Red List (March, 2008)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
   
2. Ichthyology at the Florida Museum of Natural History (July, 2002)
   http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/baskingshark/baskingshark.html
   
3. Burnie, D. (2001) Animal. Dorling Kindersley, London.
   
4. CITES (March, 2008)
   http://www.cites.org
   
5. Marine Conservation Society News Release (March, 2008)
   http://www.asso-apecs.org/IMG/pdf/Press_release_Bonn_Convention_basking_shark_listed.pdf
   
6. Bannister, K. (1989) The Book of the Shark. Quintet Publishing Ltd, London.
   
7. Australian Museum (July, 2002)
   http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/cmaximus.htm
   
8. Manx Wildlife Trust (July, 2002)
   http://www.isleofman.com
   
9. Carwardine, M. (2002) Bask Force. BBC Wildlife Magazine, 20 (7): 36 - 40.
   
10. Skomal, G. (2005) Basking shark tagging update. Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries News Bulletin, 25: 0. Available at:
    www.mass.gov/marinefisheries
    
11. Shark Trust (July, 2002)
    http://www.sharktrust.org/
    
12. Doyle, J.I., Solandt, J.L., Fanshawe, S. and Richardson, P. (2004) Basking Shark Watch 1987-2004. The Marine Conservation Society, Ross-On-Wye, UK.
    
13. Sims, D.W., Southall, E.J., Metcalfe, J.D. and & Pawson, M.G. (2005) Basking Shark Population Assessment - Report to Global Wildlife Division. DEFRA, UK.
    
14. UK Biodiversity Action Plan (March, 2008)
    http://www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=203