A massive shark, typically found in warm southern European waters, has washed up alive on a beach in the English Channel. The animal, believed to be a smalltooth sand tiger shark, weighs 600kg and measures 430cm in length. These sharks are usually found in the Bay of Biscay and south toward Morocco, including the Mediterranean Sea, the Azores, and the Canary Islands.
Rare Sighting on Jersey Beach
The shark washed up alive on Greve D'Azette beach in St. Clement on Jersey in the Channel Islands on Sunday. This species is rare and endangered, having been recorded in UK waters only a handful of times. Authorities confirmed it is the first time the species has been found in Jersey since records began.
Jersey Coastguard, the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, and Marine Resources attended the scene. While the shark showed small signs of life, it could not be revived. The incoming tide then carried the shark away until the next day, June 8, when it washed up again. A postmortem conducted by New Era vets revealed no obvious cause of death, and there were no signs of fisheries interaction or entanglement. The Government of Jersey Marine Resources stated that identification is yet to be confirmed through DNA analysis.
Other Shark Sightings in UK Waters
While the UK may not seem a typical habitat for sharks, there have been several instances where sharks have washed up on British beaches or been caught by fishermen. In June last year, an endangered shark was caught in shallow waters off a British beach by a stunned fisherman. Alex McGlynn, a fisherman of 20 years, reported he had never seen a tope shark in that area. Tope sharks can grow up to six feet in length and primarily feed on bony fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods.
Fortunately, these shark species are not considered aggressive, and there are no records of attacks on humans. The tope shark can reach lengths of up to 6ft 3in, but despite their size, they are not threatening. They have been spotted around the UK in recent years and are protected in UK and EU waters; if caught on rod and line, they must be returned to the sea alive.
