SHARK SHOCKER!
Experts predict sharks will invade Britain’s coast by 2048 – with Great Whites, Hammerheads and Blacktips among the deadly species
Currently Cornwall is the UK’s shark capital with at least 20 species found off the Cornish coast
MAN-EATING Great White sharks could be prowling British waters by 2048, new research has revealed.
The bloody-thirsty terrors of the deep, made famous by blockbuster movie Jaws, are being attracted as the waters off our shores warm up.
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How to survive an encounter with a Great White Shark
Great Whites are usually found in the Med, Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans but there have been reports of them swimming off the coast of Britain - with claims of one prowling near Portsmouth last year.
But shark expert Dr Ken Collins said that in the next 30 years warmer conditions and availability of prey could make British waters an ideal hunting ground for the feared beast.
Dr Collins, of the University of Southampton, said: "You get Great Whites off the coast of South Africa where the water is colder than here and I see no reason why we should not have them in our waters.
''There are Great Whites in the Med, which isn't too far away and so I see no reason why they shouldn't be spotted here, particularly off the coast of Cornwall where there is an abundant supply of seals, which is their favourite food.
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"Seals are like hamburgers to sharks, fat, juicy and meaty.
''The temperature of the water rise is barely noticeable but if you take your traditional cod and chips you will probably find that it hasn't been fished off our coasts but nearer to Iceland where the water is colder.
''It would not take much of a change in water temperature from climate change, maybe less than one degree, for them to come here.''
The study was commissioned by National Geographic’s week long series called Sharkfest which started last night on Nat Geo Wild and runs until Sunday.
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In May a Great White shark was thought to have been responsible after the half eaten carcasses of two dolphins were found off the coast of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. And in March caretaker Tristan Seven-Jones claimed to have spotted a 20ft Great White off the coast of Plymouth, Devon, after snapping a tail fin in the water.
While at the weekend five pals on a fishing trip off Devon hauled in an amazing catch of 20 sharks, mainly Blue and Porbeagle, in one trip.
Dr Collins said other species of sharks including hammerheads, blacktips and tiger sharks are also predicted to be prowling our shores thanks to rising sea temperatures, according to the research.
Experts say there are currently up to 40 different species of shark in UK waters and after Cornwall other top spotting locations include the Scilly Isles, Devon and the Isle of Wight.
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Since 1900 there have been more than 200 shark attacks in Europe with the UK waters having the second highest incident rate of 38 - Italy has the most at 50, with 11 of those fatal.
There have been no fatal attacks in Britain and the latest was in May when trawlerman Max Berryman was attacked off the coast of Cornwall by Porbeagle and suffered ten inch cuts.
Experts say the best course of defence if attacked by a shark is to punch it on the nose or jab it in the eye.
Public warned to stay out of water after massive shark filmed swimming in inches from harbour wall in Cornwall
Experts reckon Britain's coast will be 'swimming with sharks' within 30 years
EXPERTS reckon the UK's coastline will be swimming with deadly sharks - including the 20ft-long great hammerhead and blacktip sharks - in just 30 years' time.
Among the other sharks set to patrol our shores by 2050 include the deadly oceanic whitetip sharks and the horrific-looking goblin sharks.
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Ground-breaking new research by Dr Ken Collins, the former administrator of the UK Shark Tagging Programme, said that increasing numbers of sharks will soon start migrating to the UK as sea temperatures rise.
A new shark map of Britain shows 'hotspots' where the beasts from the deep are likely to arrive, mostly centred on the south and west coasts of the UK - although two of the top 10 areas are in Scotland.
The top 10 new species of sharks set to invade UK waters by 2050 are predicted to be:
1. Great Hammerhead
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The largest species of hammerhead, which can grow to 20ft-long and weight around 1,000lbs.
The beast is normally found off the Atlantic coast of Africa, North America, Caribbean, South America, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as well as around the Mediterranean coasts of Spain and Portugal.
2. Blacktip shark
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The sharks, which grow to around 8ft-long, are known to leap out of the water and have been responsible for around 28 unprovoked attacks on humans, with one fatal.
They normally live in the Mediterranean, Atlantic coast of Africa, North America, Caribbean, South America, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans
3. Sand Tiger Shark
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The 10ft-long sharks, also known as the spotted ragged-toothed shark, are normally found in Australia, South East Asia, the Atlantic coast of the USA, South America and the Mediterranean.
4. Bigeye Thresher
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The shark, which has a giant 'whip' for a tail, which is uses to stun prey, can grow to up to 16ft and is normally found in the mid-Atlantic, northern Spain, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean. It has been caught in British waters but numbers are set to rocket as the waters warm up.
5. Longfin Mako
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Related to the Great White shark, the longfin mako - which can reach around 13ft-long - is normally found in the mid-Atlantic, northern Spain, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean. The mako is an occasional visitor to our waters - mainly off Cornwall. But numbers are set to increase.
6. Copper shark
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Also known as the bronze whaler, this beast - which can reach around 11ft and has hook-shaped upper teeth to stop prey escaping - is known for attacking humans, mostly in the New Zealand area.
The shark is found in The Med, Africa, South America and the Pacific coast.
7. Oceanic Whitetip shark
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The infamous sharks, which can grow to around 13ft, are known to have attacked and killed sailors on the USS Indianapolis after it was torpedoed in 1945 and attacked tourists in Sharm El Sheikh in 2010.
They normally live in northern Spain and the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
8. Silky shark
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The shark, which grows to around 8ft-long, is currently found in the Mediterranean, southern Spain/Portugal, mid-Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and both sides of the Pacific coast
9. Dusky shark
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The 14ft-long beast is known to attack humans and is currently found off the coasts of Spain and Portugal, and off the Atlantic coast of Africa, North America, Caribbean, South America, Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans
10. Goblin shark
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