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Rare Shark's Tragic End on Jersey Shore
9 Jun
Summary
- A 4.3m endangered shark washed ashore on a Jersey beach.
- The smalltooth sand tiger shark was found showing signs of life.
- Post-mortem revealed no obvious cause of death for the rare visitor.
A large, endangered smalltooth sand tiger shark, measuring 4.3 meters (14ft) and weighing 597kg (1,316lbs), was found deceased on a Jersey beach. The shark, identified as a species on the IUCN Red List, was initially reported showing signs of life at Greve D'Azette on Sunday but could not be saved. This is the first time this species has been recorded in Jersey.
Marine Resources officials confirmed the animal was taken away by the tide and later washed ashore again on Monday. A post-mortem examination has since been conducted, which did not reveal any obvious cause of death. Officials noted there were no signs of fisheries interaction or entanglement. British Divers Marine Life Rescue stated the shark is typically found in warmer oceans and its recent sightings in UK and Irish waters may be linked to rising sea temperatures.
