Newspapers today are focusing around our RSPB Langstone Harbour reserve, Hampshire, as a frisherman claims a great white shark is hunting around Hayling Island.
While many species of shark are native to waters, there have never been any confirmed sightings of globally vulnerable great white sharks off the coast of the UK according to marine experts, the Shark Trust.
It's far more likely to be one of our UK shark species, which although not dangerous to humans, can grow very large. Around 30 species of shark are thought to live in the UK and many are considered endangered or vulnerable according to data from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Basking sharks, which can grow to over 20 feet, are often spotted off our coastline. They are the second largest shark in the world, but feast almost exclusively on plankton.
Sadly, sharks are in massive decline with an estimated 100 million sharks killed globally every year, largely thought to be due to fishing methods, over fishing and sale of shark products. Globally, sharks rarely attack humans and if they do attack, it's more likely to be a case of mistaking humans for one of their regular food sources such as seals.
The RSPB is no stranger to sharks on reserves though. In 2015, over 50 smooth-hound sharks turned up at our RSPB Medmerry reserve, West Sussex. To watch the footage click here!
One of the smoothhound sharks in VERY shallow water at Medmerry. Image courtesy of Andrew House.