May 15, 2009 6:34 pm US/Eastern
Local Sharks 'Basking' In International Spotlight
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world. This cool water fish hangs out off our coast during spring, summer, and fall, but its winter whereabouts have been a mystery until now.
WBZ
"Every couple of years a basking shark comes really close to our shore," said Greg Skomal, Senior Marine Biologist for MA Marine Fisheries.
Skomal has been studying sharks for almost three decades.
"Of course, everybody freaks out -- a big shark, close to the beach with swimmers in the water. Get everyone out! It's a scene right from 'Jaws," he said.
But thanks to new research, no one is running from these creatures of the deep -- instead, our local shark is now in the international spotlight!
Basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world. This cool water fish hangs out off our coast during spring, summer, and fall, but its winter whereabouts have been a mystery until now.
"We thought that during the colder months these sharks were going offshore into deep waters where we couldn't see them. Our new data shows that everything we thought we knew is only partially right," said Skomal.
Using tracking devices attached to the dorsal fin of basking sharks, the data collected revealed a surprising journey.
"So I am getting an e-mail of data sent via satellite indicating there is a basking shark off the Cayman Islands. What? A basking shark? A cold water basking shark? I thought someone must have found the tracking device and kept it on their boat," laughed Skomal. "Then I looked closer and realized, this is no boat. It's a shark diving to depths of 3,000 feet! This shark is migrating to the tropics!"
Skomal was stunned.
"You want to call all your shark buddies and say, 'Guess what!' But you have to be cautious."
But soon the evidence became overwhelming.
"As each tracking device popped up, the location was successively farther and farther south -- as far south as Brazil. My colleagues and I are just bouncing off the walls!"
Skomal sees this new research as an important step in conservation efforts.
"I dont think that the global or oceanic population size is that big because we are showing connectivity north and south of the equator," said Skomal.
And this new data is just the start of unraveling more unknowns.
"Nobody knows where baby basking sharks are. No one has ever seen pregnant females. Perhaps where our sharks are going represents the nursery?" Skomal offered.
"It is really cool to be part of the team that just got lucky," he concluded.
Read the full research report on basking sharks
Check Greg Skomal's book on New England sharks
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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