Video: Whale watchers get suprise visit from shark near Boston Harbor
by TheDorsalFin on Sep.02, 2010 at 10:57 am, under Shark Videos
YouTube user yleelawman recently posted the above video of what is described as a great white shark filmed in Stellwagen Bank during a whale watching tour. White sharks have been spotted fairly regularly in the waters off of Massachusetts, during this time of year, when the species is known to commonly migrate to northern waters of the Atlantic.
Update: A reader has commented that the dorsal fin seen in the video seems more characteristic of a basking shark than a white shark. After watching the video again, I’m inclined to agree. Basking sharks are also not uncommon in Massachusetts waters. Just last month a basking shark washed ashore on a Massachusetts beach after being filmed earlier swimming very close to shore.
If any shark experts out there would like to weigh in on the species identification, please let us know in the comments section. Thanks!
September 2nd, 2010 on 2:10 pm
Unless the dorsal fin is deformed or damaged, it looks more like a basking sharks fin.
September 2nd, 2010 on 2:20 pm
Dave,
Thank for the comment. I just watched the video again, and I’m inclined to agree. The posterior margin is more consistent with a basking shark’s dorsal fin, than a white shark’s.
September 2nd, 2010 on 4:13 pm
I am going with basker as well, fins seems too rounded with too much lateral movement through the water.
September 3rd, 2010 on 7:02 am
Ya there are no serrated edges on the trailing edge either i would agree it looks like a basking shark.
September 3rd, 2010 on 6:46 pm
Agreed: I know that at least one marine biologist in S. Africa that studies White sharks exclusively uses the notches in the dorsal to ID specific individuals.
September 3rd, 2010 on 6:48 pm
Here’s a link to the “fin-printing” project: http://www.saveourseas.com/blogs/sharkcentre-sa/3929