'Basket Shark' delivers marine pollution message to the public

STAFF and students from Falmouth University paraded a hand-crafted, life-size and mechanical 20-foot sculpture of a basking shark through the streets to the beach to mark World Ocean Day.

- by WEST BRITON REPORTER

The creation was transported from Falmouth Campus through to Gyllyngvase Beach for Falmouth's 'Festival for the Ocean, highlighting the dangers caused by plastic pollution.

Made from carbon-light materials such as salvaged bamboo, willow, and pallet wood, the shark, aptly named as the 'Basket Shark,' is a visually inspiring project that has been led by senior lecturer Duncan Cameron.

It has seen children, tourists, local people, staff and students come together to create the life-size sculpture at a series of community workshops and recently drew large crowds during its May half-term residency at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall (NMMC).

The work has been assembled, displayed and performed by Falmouth's staff and students to highlight pressures facing the wonderful but vulnerable basking shark, the world's second largest fish.