\n Local fishermen Richard Emmerson and Russ Conlon captured the extraordinary moment while sailing along the coast.\n<\/p>\n
\n At an impressive 30 feet long and weighing seven tonnes, basking sharks are Britain\u2019s largest animals.\n<\/p>\n
\n Despite their size, they are not aggressive and feed solely on plankton, which they filter through their enormous open mouths.\n<\/p>\n
\n Richard said at the time: “In the 38 years we\u2019ve been out fishing and running boat trips along the Flamborough coast, this is the first time we\u2019ve ever seen a basking shark.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Tom Marshall, from the Yorkshire Nature Triangle, added: “There have only been a handful of sightings of basking sharks in the North Sea over recent years and it really is special to see one so close to the Yorkshire coast.”\n<\/p>\n