A rare shark has been reeled in from the shallow waters off a British beach, leaving an experienced fisherman astounded. Alex McGlynn, a seasoned angler of 20 years, confessed he had never encountered a tope shark in these parts before.
These creatures can reach lengths of up to six feet and their diet mainly consists of bony fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Fortunately, this species of shark is not known for its aggression and there are no documented instances of them attacking humans.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the species as critically endangered. Alex believes his catch, made off the coast of Swansea, could be a positive sign.
“What a fish, I was absolutely buzzing,” he shared with What’s The Jam. It’s unusual to find them near shallow beaches or even close to the shore.
“It suggests that either their numbers are on the rise, or they’re seeking alternative food sources due to a scarcity of their primary prey, mackerel, likely a result of overfishing.”
“Tope are typically deep water sharks, so you’d normally expect to catch them from boats.”
Alex promptly released the shark after catching it, estimating it weighed around 40lbs.
Despite reaching sizes of up to 6ft 3in, tope sharks pose no threat and have been sighted around the UK in recent years.
There are no records of unprovoked attacks by tope sharks on humans. Historically, tope were hunted for the high vitamin A content found in their livers.
They are protected within UK and EU waters and any caught on rod and line must be returned to the sea alive.
UK beachgoers were left in shock as soaring May temperatures brought a 12-foot “mini-Jaws” alarmingly close to two popular beaches.
Terrifying footage captured the large shark circling just feet from Aberystwyth’s North Beach, drawing crowds who watched in awe as its fin sliced through the waves on Friday evening.
Believed to be a Porbeagle shark, the creature prompted calls to wildlife rescue and the coastguard amid concerns it was distressed or hurt.
As the shark ventured perilously near the beach jetty, there were fears it might beach itself, prompting warnings for the public to stay clear both for their own safety and to avoid upsetting the animal further.
Craig Roberts, visiting his son at Aberystwyth University, witnessed the scene and recounted the narrow escape children had, saying: “We were on the pier and saw a bit of a commotion so went to have a look. Kids were jumping in the water just before it was spotted – they soon got out though.”