A group of local fishermen recently pulled in the largest porbeagle shark ever captured in Irish waters, having caught it near Donegal.
The local fishermen, along with a research team working with Trinity College Dublin, caught the massive shark, which they dubbed Danu, the Irish Times reported Tuesday. They reeled in the shark in hopes that it could tell them more about the porbeagle population, according to the outlet. (RELATED: Terrifying Shark Washes Ashore In Florida)
Great start to new Irish porbeagle project, tagged two beauties last week including this HUGE 249cm (FL) female (Irish record? TBC). Fast workup, released healthy and both sharks already pinging loads on SPOT tags. Massive thanks to the super local anglers for their help 🦈🇮🇪1/2 pic.twitter.com/6c6DJY7LYm
— Nicholas Payne (@nicklpayne) April 19, 2022
The European porbeagle popn is critically endangered, and we think Donegal could be a globally important reproductive area. Collaborating with local anglers to monitor these incredible fish is great way to study them and promote popn recovery. Funded by @scienceirel 🇮🇪🍀🦈2/2
— Nicholas Payne (@nicklpayne) April 19, 2022
Danu is a female porbeagle weighing somewhere between 400 and 500 pounds. The 25- to 30-year-old shark is believed to be the largest porbeagle specimen caught off Ireland to ever be recorded, measuring over 9 feet in length, according to the Irish Times.
The shark was taken to the research team’s boat so they could examine it and tag it for additional research. One tag she received will provide information about migration patterns and ocean conditions; the other will track her location each time her fin breaches the surface, which is reportedly a habit of Danu’s species, according to the outlet.
After the researchers finished their examination and attached the satellite tags, Danu was released back into the wild in healthy condition.
“If we are to see recovery of the European porbeagle population it is especially important to monitor reproductive areas. If Ireland is a key breeding site then we really have a global responsibility to protect porbeagles using this area,” Nick Payne, a shark biologist who works as an assistant professor at Trinity’s School of Natural Sciences, said, the Irish Times reported.