A juvenile great white shark has been spotted for the very first time near an island in a discovery that researchers describe as a “needle in a haystack” moment.
The incredible sighting was made using BRUVs – Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems – which is a project that records a variety of marine life, including tuna, sea turtles, and ground fish
But never a great white shark, until now.
It marked a first for The Atlantic Shark Institute (ASI) and for Rhode Island.
“These small white sharks can be so elusive we didn’t know if it would ever happen,” said Jon Dodd, executive director of the ASI.
“This is likely the first time anyone has seen this shark, and, based on its size, it is likely a young-of-the-year.
“It’s a beautiful video and so wonderful to document this majestic shark.”
The video shows a juvenile white shark gliding gracefully near Block Island, curiously inspecting the baited camera system.
The BRUVs system works by lowering bait to the seafloor and waiting for any curious creature to pass by while a camera records, as reported by Need To Know.
Erin Mullen, director of the Block Island Maritime Institute, was the first to review the exciting footage.
Dodd added: “This is another excellent data point for our white shark research in Southern New England, and we hope it’s not the last.”
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