AT least 18 species of shark can be found in the waters around Scotland, according to UK conservation charity, The Shark Trust.

They range from the small dogfish – up to three feet in length – to basking sharks, which can grow to 30ft and are found off the west coast in late summer. Others include the small-spotted catshark, tope, starry smooth hound, Greenland shark and angel shark.

Porbeagles, which reach up to 10ft, are native throughout UK waters but have suffered from overfishing, with their population in the northeast Atlantic now classified as critically endangered.

Earlier this year, the Scottish Government introduced legislation to protect 26 vulnerable species of sharks, skates and rays – including porbeagles – in Scottish waters. It bans fishermen from landing these vulnerable fish.

Although related to the much-feared Great White Shark, the porbeagle has been responsible for just two unprovoked attacks listed by the International Shark Attack File, both on divers and both non-fatal.