327 pound dusky shark swimming off Virginia coast

Researchers tracked a large dusky shark named Mira near the Virginia coast, urging caution to boaters and swimmers.

VIRGINIA, USA — A large dusky shark named Mira was tracked just off the Virginia coast Friday afternoon and remains in the area as of Saturday morning, according to researchers with OCEARCH.

Mira, a 327-pound female dusky shark, pinged in local waters around 1:53 p.m. Friday and again at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Researchers are using satellite tracking to monitor her movements as part of an ongoing effort to better understand shark behavior along the Atlantic coast.

While sightings like Mira’s aren’t unusual in summer, researchers urge boaters and swimmers to keep their distance. Dusky sharks are considered a vulnerable species, and monitoring efforts like these help protect both the animals and those who enjoy the water.

Mira’s latest position and travel history can be followed on the OCEARCH tracker: https://www.ocearch.org/tracker/detail/mira.