Latest news with #AtlanticSharkInstitute
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Shark in the pond!' Rhode Island boaters experience incredible ‘Jaws' moment
A customer at a Rhode Island restaurant this week captured an extraordinary scene on video as a giant shark surfaced behind boaters in Great Salt Pond. In the footage, as the shark's fins slice through the water, a woman exclaims, 'There's a shark in the pond!' As noted by the Atlantic Shark Institute, the sighting was 'reminiscent of a scene from 'Jaws' on the 50th anniversary of the film.' It's clear that this was a massive shark, but the ASI was quick to correct false theories in explaining that it was a harmless basking shark, not a potentially dangerous great white. The ASI explained in a separate post: 'Here is the culprit that got almost 14 million views, thousands of comments, and was thought to be about 10 different species of shark for its unique and eye catching visit to a pond in Block Island, RI this week! 'The species, which many guessed accurately, was a basking shark, the second largest fish in the world.' The basking shark was estimated to measure about 20 feet. The footage was captured by Jen Seebeck from Dead Eye Dick's restaurant. This article originally appeared on For The Win: 'Shark in the pond!' Rhode Island boaters experience 'Jaws' moment
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
‘Shark in the pond!' Rhode Island boaters experience incredible ‘Jaws' moment
'Shark in the pond!' Rhode Island boaters experience incredible 'Jaws' moment A customer at a Rhode Island restaurant this week captured an extraordinary scene on video as a giant shark surfaced behind boaters in Great Salt Pond. In the footage, as the shark's fins slice through the water, a woman exclaims, 'There's a shark in the pond!' As noted by the Atlantic Shark Institute, the sighting was 'reminiscent of a scene from 'Jaws' on the 50th anniversary of the film.' It's clear that this was a massive shark, but the ASI was quick to correct false theories in explaining that it was a harmless basking shark, not a potentially dangerous great white. The ASI explained in a separate post: 'Here is the culprit that got almost 14 million views, thousands of comments, and was thought to be about 10 different species of shark for its unique and eye catching visit to a pond in Block Island, RI this week! 'The species, which many guessed accurately, was a basking shark, the second largest fish in the world.' The basking shark was estimated to measure about 20 feet. The footage was captured by Jen Seebeck from Dead Eye Dick's restaurant.
Forbes
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Jaws Anniversary Coincides With Real-Life Shark Sighting In Rhode Island
Basking sharks, despite their size, pose no threat to humans. They have tiny teeth, no interest in ... More large prey, and spend most of their time following plankton blooms. Just in time for the 50th anniversary of 'Jaws,' a real-life shark sighting had New Englanders channeling their best 'shahk in the pawnd' impressions this week. The moment unfolded at the end of last month near Block Island, Rhode Island; it was here, in the calm waters of the Great Salt Pond, that diners enjoying a seafood meal at Dead Eye Dick's spotted something unusual slicing through the surface. A pair of unmistakable dorsal fins. Phones came out, videos were taken, and soon even the NGO Atlantic Shark Institute was sharing the footage of the sizable animal online. The organization, which monitors shark activity throughout the region, joked about the parallel to the infamous movie and invited the public to guess what kind of shark had found its way into the sheltered saltwater lagoon. Speculation quickly flooded the comments. Guesses ranged from great whites to sand tigers to makos. But the truth was far less dramatic and dangerous. In the video, the silhouette looked imposing, and anyone unfamiliar with shark species could understandably assume it was something dangerous. The shark, as confirmed later by the institute's executive director Jon Dodd, was a basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus). Enormous, yes, as they are the second largest fish in the ocean after the whale shark. But dangerous? Not quite. They're filter-feeders, cruising through the ocean with mouths wide open to scoop up plankton, not people. A 20-foot basking shark made an unexpected appearance in Rhode Island's Great Salt Pond, stirring ... More memories of Jaws but posing no danger. The one in the Great Salt Pond was around 20 feet long (just over 6 meters), making it relatively modest for its species, which can grow over 40 feet (12 meters) in length. Still, seeing an animal that size in a place where people typically kayak, swim, and anchor boats is enough to give anyone pause. 'The size of these sharks, the height of the dorsal fin, and how they move can be a real attention getter!' said Dodd to a local outlet. 'They can look quite a bit like a great white shark at a glance, or from distance, and that can put people into a panic and justifiably so based on where you might be at the time (think in the water!)' Basking sharks, despite their size, pose no threat to humans. They have tiny teeth, no interest in large prey, and spend most of their time following plankton blooms. And yes, they can look eerily similar to great white sharks, especially if your only reference is the iconic 1975 Spielberg film. 'The good news? They've never been implicated in any bite on a human being, as noted in the International Shark Attack File. They are endangered in some parts of the world and considered 'vulnerable' here in the U.S.,' ASI explained. While the scene may have triggered some instinctive unease, experts were quick to clarify there was no cause for concern. 'Sharks are arriving in Rhode Island daily,' the Atlantic Shark Institute continued in a Facebook post, 'as water temperatures continue to rise and more and more species of shark find them suitable to their liking.' This is part of a larger trend tied to climate change and warming ocean temperatures, which are shifting where marine animals spend their time during the summer months. It's no surprise then that basking sharks, which are normally seen off the coast in deeper waters, are making occasional detours into shallower inlets like Great Salt Pond. Fortunately for any nervous swimmers, the shark didn't linger. By the next day, it had likely found its way back out to open water, leaving only ripples (and viral footage) in its wake. As we mark the anniversary of 'Jaws,' it's worth recognizing how far we have come as a society. Fifty years ago, a scene like this might have ended in alarm and calls for the removal of the individual (likely leading to a grim end for the shark in question). Today, it ends with a Facebook post, a science lesson, and a bit of local pride. After all, not every summer hotspot gets a visit from one of the ocean's true giants.
Scottish Sun
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Watch nailbiting moment enormous 20ft shark stalks human prey in terrifying Jaws-like scene…before boat makes hasty exit
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the nerve-racking moment a huge 20ft shark emerges from the water before stalking a tiny boat - bringing to mind classic thriller Jaws. Tense footage showed the humongous beast lurking behind the small vessel in a pond on Block Island as it came dangerously close to two passengers. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 This is the moment a shark came dangerously close to a boat Credit: Instagram/Atlantic Shark Institute 3 Two passengers sped away from the 20ft beast Credit: Instagram/Atlantic Shark Institute 3 The video was captured in Rhode Island by local Jen Seebeck who was eating at the Dead Eye Dicks restaurant by Great Salt Pond when she spotted the enormous dorsal, The Atlantic Shark Institute reported. The boat was seen slowly drifting towards the edge of the lake, while two dark shapes appeared to rise from the water. The two fins could easily have been mistaken for two separate sharks, due to the distance between the pair. But shockingly, they were actually part of the same beast - representing the top fin and tail of the 20ft predator. The boat carrying two passengers then started to speed away, possibly following the crew's sudden realisation. The nailbiting scene has sparked comparisons to the classic film Jaws - which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. One person even referenced Steven Spielberg's shark thriller in the video, as they shouted: 'There's a shark in the pond!' It is currently unclear what exact species the nimble shark captured in the footage is. The Atlantic Shark Institute said: "Sharks are arriving in Rhode Island daily as water temperatures continue to rise and more and more species of shark find them suitable to their liking. 'Hopefully this shark will find its way out of Great Salt Pond soon and continue on its way!' Huge 12 meter basking shark spotted off the beaches of Marbella Block Island has recently been named one of the 10 best summer destinations in the United States, according to USA Today. It comes after another enormous shark was spotted dangerously near a beach in a popular Spanish tourist spot. A viral video showed the colossal beast skulking around the waters just off the coast of Marbella. And earlier this month, the biggest shark ever tagged by researchers was spotted prowling up the US east coast. Known as "The Contender", the massive white shark was seen skulking around the North Carolina coast. The behemoth was previously seen following the Gulf Stream south near Florida. Weighing 1,600 pounds, the beast was first tagged on January 17 this year about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia border. It was the largest ever shark tagged by research group OCEARCH in the area.
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Watch nailbiting moment enormous 20ft shark stalks human prey in terrifying Jaws-like scene…before boat makes hasty exit
THIS is the nerve-racking moment a huge 20ft shark emerges from the water before stalking a tiny boat - bringing to mind classic thriller Jaws. Tense footage showed the humongous beast lurking behind the small vessel in a pond on Block Island as it came dangerously close to two passengers. 3 3 3 The video was captured in Rhode Island by local Jen Seebeck who was eating at the Dead Eye Dicks restaurant by Great Salt Pond when she spotted the enormous dorsal, The Atlantic Shark Institute reported. The boat was seen slowly drifting towards the edge of the lake, while two dark shapes appeared to rise from the water. The two fins could easily have been mistaken for two separate sharks, due to the distance between the pair. But shockingly, they were actually part of the same beast - representing the top fin and tail of the 20ft predator. The boat carrying two passengers then started to speed away, possibly following the crew's sudden realisation. The nailbiting scene has sparked comparisons to the classic film Jaws - which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. One person even referenced Steven Spielberg's shark thriller in the video, as they shouted: 'There's a shark in the pond!' It is currently unclear what exact species the nimble shark captured in the footage is. The Atlantic Shark Institute said: "Sharks are arriving in Rhode Island daily as water temperatures continue to rise and more and more species of shark find them suitable to their liking. 'Hopefully this shark will find its way out of Great Salt Pond soon and continue on its way!' Block Island has recently been named one of the 10 best summer destinations in the United States, according to USA Today. It comes after another enormous shark was spotted dangerously near a beach in a popular Spanish tourist spot. A viral video showed the colossal beast skulking around the waters just off the coast of Marbella. And earlier this month, the biggest shark ever tagged by researchers was spotted prowling up the US east coast. Known as "The Contender", the massive white shark was seen skulking around the North Carolina coast. The behemoth was previously seen following the Gulf Stream south near Florida. Weighing 1,600 pounds, the beast was first tagged on January 17 this year about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia border. It was the largest ever shark tagged by research group OCEARCH in the area.
