The Dorsal Fin

The Courier-Mail recently posted a story titled, Monster shark spreads fear off Queensland coast, focusing on a supposed "monster" white shark, which is so large that it was able to nearly bite a 3m (approximately 10′) white shark "in half" (with two bites on alternating sides, that is). The 3m shark was bitten after it was "snared on a baited drumline." The Courier-Mail posted this picture of the 3m white shark with the bite marks from the larger shark. The article goes on to estimate the size of this "monster" to be 5m (approximately 16.5′) or more. The article also refers to the shark as a "giant" great white, when not repeatedly referring to it as a "monster shark."

Let’s take a step back into reality, shall we? 5m is not outside of the range of what would generally be considered a normal length for an adult white shark. It is hardly a "giant," relatively speaking, when it comes to white sharks. So, who is spreading the fear about a monster off the coast of Queensland? Is it the actual shark or the over-the-top sensationalized reporting about the shark?

The article goes on to discuss the controversial topic of shark nets. Aside from the unnecessary sensationalism, one thing about the article that did strike me as interesting was that it mentioned that Vic Hislop (great white shark "hunter") does not support the use of shark nets due to the overall damage they cause to the marine environment, and that he supports methods to "scare away sharks rather than capture and kill them." This comes as a bit of surprise considering some of Hislop’s statements about sharks, which were featured in a recent Edit International article.

According the AP, three more great white sharks were tagged yesterday (09/08/09) off of Monomoy Island near Chatham, Massachusetts. This brings the total number of white sharks tagged to five, in the past week (two great white sharks were tagged in the area on Saturday). Several Chatham beaches continued to remain closed due to the presence of the great white sharks in the area.

CBS news also reported on this story, but they apparently could not resist the temptation to play up the "Jaws" angle, as seen in the video segment below.

From a shark research standpoint, the tagging of five white sharks in the Atlantic is exciting news. Hopefully, the data acquired as a result of the taggings will lead to more insight into migratory behaviors of Atlantic-bound great white sharks.

The Tribune of San Luis Obispo serves up some sensationlism in the article, ,13-foot shark slashes seal while boaters watch off Cambria; After fishing and diving off Cambria, North County trio gets a chilling, up-close look at a feeding great white. The story details the account of three divers who witnessed a white shark feeding on a seal off the coast of Cambria, Ca. The divers witnessed the event while aboard a Zodiac. While the article itself remains fairly objective and is well-written, the headline and secondary title take a natural feeding event and turn it into a “chilling” encounter for the witnesses, as the shark “slashes” through the seal. Can’t a white shark just eat a meal without it being likened to a scene from a horror movie? I’m glad my meals aren’t documented by the media, I can see the headline now…

Portland’s Koin Local 6 News is reporting that the fisherman who towed a great white shark to shore, near Depoe Bay (Oregon), after finding it snagged in his crab pot lines has been cited for possessing the shark. However, they also report that a source close to the fisherman has said that not only is this not true, but that the fisherman was instructed by authorities to bring the dead shark in. The report also chronicles reports of other possible shark sightings, one of which “scientists confirmed MAY be a great white shark,” which is a nice way of saying, “We can’t confirm that it was a great white shark, but it’s possible.”

The Depoe Bay great white shark story has seen its share of variations. KATU.com originally reported that "the shark sprung to life in the parking lot pictured, thrashing around and almost biting someone," after it had been dragged into a parking lot. This particular aspect of the story seems to have faded from further reports.

While the internet can be a great source of information, it seems that it’s also capable of being a great source of misinformation, as well. If anybody has a definitive (and accurate) account of this story, please feel free to share it, thanks.

According to the article, “Great White Shark Sighted Near Orange Beach”, the captain and crew aboard Chipper’s Clipper witnessed what they believed to be a great white shark on July 25. The shark was seen about 40 miles southeast of Orange Beach, Alabama in the Gulf of Mexico. Captain Chip Day first spotted the shark about 200 feet from the boat. He initially thought that it was a mako, but as it got closer, he and fisherman, Joe Pruett, “were able to observe the jagged line separating the gray from the white on the shark’s body. It was then they realized they’d just had a close, rare encounter with a Great White Shark in the Gulf of Mexico.”

Pruett, who had served in the Navy and spent time in the Pacific, said he had seen a number of great white sharks, and the shark they witnessed in the Gulf “looked just like” the white sharks he had seen during his time in the Navy. Day, who has been fishing in the Gulf for 30 years, had seen numerous mako and bull sharks, but this was the first time he’d ever had an encounter with a white shark.

A picture of the shark’s dorsal fin, as well as, a shot of the shark taken from the surface are featured with the original article. Was this a rare encounter with a great white in the Gulf? Check out the pictures and the story to see for yourself.