14-Foot Smalltooth Sand Tiger Shark Washed Up on Irish Beach, Second Case in UK in 2023; Is This Rare Species Aggressive?

(Photo: Pexels/Magda Ehlers)
14-Foot Smalltooth Sand Tiger Shark Washed Up on Irish Beach, Second Case in UK in 2023; Is This Rare Specie Aggressive?

Another smalltooth sand tiger shark had washed ashore in the United Kingdom. The second sighting was in County Wexford in the Republic of Ireland.

Smalltooth Sand Tiger Sharked Washed Ashore

Shark biologist Nicholas Payne at Trinity College Dublin received an email from a Swiss tourist about a dead sand tiger shark he discovered while walking at Kilmore Quay Saturday. The concerned netizen shared photos in his email, and Payne immediately visited the place after seeing the pictures, BBC reported.

Payne, Jenny Bortoluzzi, Haley Dolton, and UCD scientist Kevin Purves rushed against the incoming tide to see the shark.

Payne said they had to rush to take as many measures and samples as possible before the tide took it out. The team wanted to know what happened to the fish, why it died, and why it showed in the region.

Payne said they had a unique chance to gain access to the species and do all they could to learn about it to make something positive out of the tragic situation.

The shark was a large female smalltooth sand tiger shark. It was 14 feet and weighed between 300 and 400 kg. The maximum size for females of the said species is 15 feet, putting the recent discovery at the upper end of their size limits.

"Even though it was dead, for us to be so close to it and measure and look at it - it is still awe inspiring for us to witness those wonderful animals - even though it is a little sad that it was not swimming around out there," the researcher said.

This Ireland specimen, a female, was larger than the species' maximum reported size for females, which is approximately 15 feet (4.5 meters).

Second Sighting of Rare Shark Raises Concerns

It was the first official record of the rare species in Irish waters. However, another shark of the same species also washed ashore on Lepe Beach in Hampshire two weeks ago.

In a previous report from Science Times, a six-foot smalltooth sand tiger shark was washed up in Hampshire. Unfortunately, they were already too late when TV presenter Dan Snow arrived in the area after his biologist friend, Ben Garrodi, informed him to secure the fish. Some trophy hunters came before them and left the shark decapitated and without its tail and fin.

A huge smalltooth sand tiger shark has washed up in County Wexford - believed to be the first official record of the rare species in Irish waters.https://t.co/uwrQLnaBx4 pic.twitter.com/u8zEG6xiTh
— BBC News NI (@BBCNewsNI) April 4, 2023

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Snow called out to those who got the shark's head to return it so they could study its brain. He assured them that they could keep it afterward.

Payne admitted that there were concerns about seeing two rare species in a short time. So, they intend to contact marine biologists in the UK to share information about the two sharks.

As shark biologists and environmentalists, having two sharks appear so close together in space and time is somewhat alarming, considering that they are typically rarely seen in those areas, according to Payne. The expert added that if there is any cause for fear, it is most likely from the shark's perspective.

They're hoping it's not the beginning of something or that there won't be more deaths of this species.

Are Smalltooth Sand Tiger Sharks Aggressive?

Payne said sand tiger sharks are not aggressive at all. There has been no record of incidents when they attack humans.

The Department of Conservation also noted that they might appear massive and daunting underwater. However, their encounters with the divers indicate they are harmless unless provoked.