Ireland is home to several species of shark, ranging from the giant basking shark to the tiny mouse catshark. Other species include the fast blue shark, the long-lived Greenland shark, and the commonly seen small-spotted catshark.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in Ireland
| Species | Maximum
Size |
Aggressiveness |
| Angel Shark | 4-7 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Basking Shark |
23-30 feet | Not aggressive |
| Birdbeak Catshark | 2.6-4 feet | Not aggressive |
| Black Dogfish | 2.4-3.6 feet | Not aggressive |
| Black Rough-scale Catshark | 2.3-2.4 feet | Not aggressive |
Blackmouth Catshark |
2-2.2 feet | Not aggressive |
Blue Shark |
6-11 feet | Not aggressive |
| Bluntnose Sixgill Shark | 15-20 feet | Moderately aggressive (rarely targets humans, reports of just one provoked attack) |
Bramble Shark |
9.2-10 feet | Not aggressive |
| Common Thresher Shark | 12-18 feet | Not aggressive |
| False Catshark | 8-10 feet | Not aggressive |
| Frilled Shark | 5.6-6.6 feet | Not aggressive |
| Great Lanternshark | 2.4-2.5 feet | Not aggressive |
Greenland Shark |
7.9–14.1 feet | Not aggressive |
| Iceland Catshark | 1.64-1.96 feet | Not aggressive |
| Kitefin Shark | 3-5 feet | Not aggressive |
| Knifetooth Dogfish | 3.4-3.6 feet | Not aggressive |
| Leafscale Gulper Shark | 5-5.2 feet | Not aggressive |
| Little Gulper Shark | 2.6-3.6 feet | Not aggressive |
| Little Sleeper Shark | 4.6-4.7 feet | Not aggressive |
| Longnose Velvet Dogfish | 2.1-3.4 feet | Not aggressive |
| Mouse Catshark | 1.6-2.8 feet | Not aggressive |
| Nursehound Shark | 4.3-5.2 feet | Not aggressive |
| Porbeagle Shark | 6-12 feet | Not aggressive |
| Portuguese Dogfish | 3-3.3 feet | Not aggressive |
| School Shark | 6-7 feet | Not aggressive |
Sharpnose Sevengill Shark |
2-4.6 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Shortfin Mako Shark |
6.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Small Spotted Catshark | 2.5-3 feet | Not aggressive |
Thresher Shark |
10-18 feet | Not aggressive |
| Velvet Belly Lanternshark | 1-2 feet | Not aggressive |
Recent Cases of Shark Attacks in Ireland >>
FAQs
Have there been shark attacks in Ireland?
There were almost no records of shark attacks in Ireland until August 2022, when a snorkeler was attacked 200 km off the Irish coast.
Are the sharks in Ireland endangered or going extinct?
Basking sharks are now under special protection in Irish waters to keep them safe.
Can you go swimming with sharks in Ireland?
Yes, in the Aran Islands, there are options to go snorkeling with blue sharks, and in other parts, diving with basking sharks is a tourist attraction.
Are there great white sharks in Ireland?
While there hasn’t been a great white sighting in Ireland yet, thanks to climate change and the migration of certain prey species like cod, it would not be unlikely for great whites to appear in Irish waters.
Where can Porbeagle sharks be found in Ireland?
Porbeagles are common along all coasts of Ireland but are mostly seen to the north of Lough Swilly in Donegal as well as near Clare, Cork, and Galway.
Are there thresher sharks in Ireland?
Thresher sharks are rare in Ireland –leading to outrage when fishers landed one in 2021.
Do Greenland sharks swim near Ireland?
Yes, they have been spotted along the northern coast of Ireland.
