A giant shark weighing almost 600kg has become the first of its species ever recorded in Jersey after washing up on a beach over the weekend.
The 4.3-metre-long smalltooth sand tiger shark was discovered at Greve d’Azette on Sunday by a veterinary nurse from Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, who alerted the authorities and later assisted with a post-mortem examination.
The Government’s Marine Resources team, Jersey Coastguard and British Divers Marine Life Rescue all stepped in to help.
Attempts to revive “unsuccessful”
Marine Resources said the animal was still showing “small signs of life” when responders arrived, but attempts to revive it were unsuccessful.
What is a smalltooth sand tiger shark?
- Scientific name: Odontaspis ferox
- Common names: Smalltooth sand tiger shark, bumpytail ragged-tooth shark
- Size: Can grow to around 5.2m long. Jersey’s specimen measured 4.3m.
- Weight: Jersey’s specimen weighed 597kg.
- Habitat: Usually found in deep waters around rocky seabeds, continental slopes and underwater mountains.
- Distribution: Occurs in tropical and warm temperate seas worldwide, but sightings are rare.
- Diet: Feeds on fish, rays, squid and other marine animals.
- Danger to humans? Despite its intimidating appearance and rows of sharp teeth, there are no known records of this species behaving aggressively towards people.
- Why is the Jersey find significant? According to Marine Resources, this is the first recorded smalltooth sand tiger shark found in Jersey waters since records began.
- Recent northern sightings: Dead specimens have also washed ashore in Hampshire and Ireland in recent years.
An incoming tide carried the shark back out to sea before it washed ashore again at the same beach today (Monday).
The animal was subsequently collected by the Department for Infrastructure and taken to the Government’s knackers yard in Trinity, where a post-mortem examination was carried out by New Era Vets.
Despite the examination, no “obvious” cause of death was identified.
Marine Resources said there were “no signs” that the shark had become entangled or interacted with fishing gear.
The shark was identified as a smalltooth sand tiger shark (Odontaspis ferox), a deep-water species rarely encountered by people.
According to Marine Resources, the species has never previously been recorded in Jersey since records began, although there have been occasional reports of individuals washing up elsewhere around the British coastline.
The shark measured 430cm in length and weighed 597kg.
Marine Resources thanked those involved in responding to the incident and investigating the animal’s death.