Two-metre long shark spotted in shallow waters at Welsh beach
Two-metre long shark spotted in shallow waters at Welsh beach
A large shark was spotted close to the shore at a beach in mid Wales
A juvenile Porbeagle shark was seen at Aberystwyth's north beach on Friday evening
(Image: Craig Roberts )
A two-metre shark was spotted swimming in the sea near beach in Wales. The juvenile Porbeagle shark was seen at Aberystwyth's north beach on Friday evening, May 2.
A crowd gathered between the pier and the bandstand to watch the shark which was reported to wildlife rescue teams as it appeared to be ill or injured, and in danger of beaching itself.
Craig Roberts was at the beach at the time of the shark spotting as he was visiting his son who goes to Aberystwyth University.
"We were on the pier and saw a bit of a commotion so went to have a look. Kids were jumping in the water just before it was spotted - they soon got out though," said Craig.
When most people imagine sharks, their minds race to the warm, tropical waters of exotic places.
Few would expect one of the UK's native sharks - the porbeagle - to be a close relative of the fearsome great white. Yet the porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) quietly prowls the chilly waters around the British Isles.
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The porbeagle shark belongs to the same family as the great white and Mako sharks. These are fast-swimming, powerful hunters, perfectly adapted to life in the open ocean.
Shark Spotted On Aberystwyth Beach
Porbeagles are instantly recognizable by their streamlined, torpedo-shaped bodies, large black eyes, and a short, conical snout. Their dorsal side is a sleek bluish-grey, contrasting with a snowy white belly—classic countershading that helps them ambush prey.
One tell-tale feature for identification is a distinctive white patch at the base of their dorsal fin, a marker that sets them apart from similar species.
Porbeagle sharks are currently listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN globally. In the UK, they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and it is illegal to intentionally catch or kill them in British waters.
Historically targeted for their meat, fins, and sport (particularly during the 1950s–70s), porbeagles were once a common trophy in offshore game fishing. Today, those practices have largely ceased, but their populations have yet to fully recover.
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HM Coastguard Aberystwyth said they were received a request from the Milford Haven Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre to assist the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDLMR) charity.
"The coastguard rescue team were tasked to provide safety cover for BDMLR and also to provide a bit of crowd control to ensure no members of the public put themselves in harm's way, or inadvertently caused the shark further distress," HM Coastguard Aberystwyth said.
"After low tide and no further sightings, 'mini jaws' had seemingly made it out of the bay and so the coastguard rescue teams were stood down."
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