Upon hearing of a deceased Greenland shark found on the northwestern coast of Ireland, zoologist Emma Murphy was astonished. These massive and ancient ocean creatures are known for their elusive nature, typically inhabiting the remote Arctic and North Atlantic waters.
“I was in disbelief,” shared Murphy, a zoology curator at the National Museum of Ireland, with As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal. “We were incredibly excited.”
The National Museum of Ireland describes the species as “extremely rare” in Irish waters, marking the first instance of one being stranded on the Irish coast.
Although Irish researchers are examining the remains of the shark, a scientist suggests that the species might have a broader distribution than commonly believed.
Oldest Vertebrate Worldwide
A passerby sighted the shark near Sligo on April 11 and promptly contacted the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, a conservation organization that handles reports of stranded marine mammals.
Initially mistaken for a deceased basking shark, a species frequently seen off the Irish coast, the animal was later identified through photographs by scientists at the charity, who then informed their counterparts at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.
“We are eager to reach the site,” expressed Murphy.
According to the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory, the Greenland shark ranks among the largest carnivorous shark species globally, trailing only the great white shark in size. Typically measuring three to five meters in length, it can reach up to seven meters.
With a lifespan exceeding 270 years, the Greenland shark holds the title of the planet’s longest-living vertebrate. The oldest known specimen was estimated to be 400 years old.
Extended Geographic Range
Although the species primarily inhabits the cold waters of the Arctic and North Atlantic, including regions like Quebec and Atlantic Canada, shark scientist Dean Grubbs asserts that Ireland falls within the known range of the Greenland shark.
Grubbs, the associate research director at Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, explained, “Given their large size and mobility, as long as the water temperatures remain cold, generally below 6°C, there are few barriers to their movement.”
Spending most of their time around 2,000 meters deep in the ocean, Greenland sharks have been discovered in unexpected locations like Belize and the Gulf of Mexico.
“They likely have a much wider distribution than we currently understand,” Grubbs stated. “The scarcity of deep-sea explorations hinders frequent sightings of these sharks.”
‘Remarkably Beautiful Creatures’
Due to their deep-sea habitat, Greenland sharks are rarely encountered by divers. The initial underwater photographs of a live Greenland shark date back to 1995 in the Arctic, with the first video captured in the St. Lawrence Estuary in 2003.
Murphy and her team were thrilled to have a close encounter with the shark, navigating rocky terrain to reach the shore where it lay.
Reflecting on the experience