A giant basking shark was caught off the coast of Australia, but instead of going on the mantle the enormous fish is headed straight to the museum to be studied.
The basking shark is one of the largest and rarest species of the giant fish, and unlike its more aggressive cousin the great white shark is more docile and tame in its diet. This week a 21-foot long giant basking shark was caught in a fishing trawler’s net off the coast of Victoria, and scientists are seizing the opportunity to study tissue samples and stomach contents of the giant fish.
Researchers are thrilled with their find, as the basking shark caught this week will be just the third one the Museum Victoria has gotten in 160 years.
“It provides a rare opportunity to conduct scientific research into this species,” the spokesperson said. “This will help Museum Victoria with conservation efforts and biological research.”
Basking Shark parts safely in freezer @museumvictoria, plus stomach contents, tissue samples… @FishesAustralia pic.twitter.com/HM64fnAWU4
— Fishes of Australia (@FishesAustralia) June 23, 2015
Researchers seem quite excited about the opportunity to study a species of fish that is very rarely caught — at least in a way that can be studied.
“These rare encounters can provide many of the missing pieces of knowledge that help broader conservation and biological research,” said Dr. Martin Gomon, the museum’s senior curator of icthyology.
While museum officials are taking the opportunity to study and better understand the fish, some are decrying the death of the giant basking shark. Conservation groups are using its death to highlight the dangers of trawl fishing, which can trap and kill indiscriminately.
“While by-catch of other species such as dolphins has declined after highly publicized campaigns to protect them, the undeserved bad reputation of sharks is slowing down efforts to protect them from this wasteful and destructive practice,” said a spokesperson for Save Our Sharks, an Australian conservation group.
But this species has been targeted by illegal poachers as well. The basking shark, which has been caught in the black market shark fin trade, is protected in many areas, but they are still illegally hunted.
The giant basking shark is already attracting quite a bit of attention, including news stories from across the globe. Museum officials sparked some of this interest when they shared pictures of the giant fish laid out in the street, with researchers standing at each end measuring its length.
[Image via Museum Victoria]
