06-05-2025
'Mini jaws' off North Wales coast as public urged to keep distance
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A two metre long shark - nicknamed 'mini-Jaws' - has been spotted next to the shoreline at two beaches in Wales in recent days. The first incident was on Friday evening at Aberystwyth's North Beach.
Onlookers spotted the shark close to the wooden jetty on the beach. It was reported to sealife charities and also the coastguard over concerns it was at risk of beaching itself.
The public were urged to stay away from the Porbeagle shark over concerns they could get injured and also cause additional stress for the animal.
The second spotting was in Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, on Sunday - where Simon Howes and Owen Davies were among those who captured pictures and a video of what is understood to be the same shark.
Simon Howes said: "Wow, sharks in Aberdyfi."
(Image: Simon Howes)
Owen Davies said: "That's a first for me in Aberdyfi - a SHARK up by the Penhelig Arms hotel."
One person said: "Probably the same one that was in Aberystwyth." Another added: "Wow! He was in Aber Friday evening, nearly beached himself."
(Image: Owen Davies)
On the Aberystwyth incident the coastguard said: "HM Coastguard Aberystwyth were tasked at the request of MRCC Milford Haven to assist the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) with a 2m long juvenile Porbeagle shark swimming in the area between the pier and the bandstand that was thought to be ill/injured and in danger of beaching itself.
"The CRT 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 harms way, or inadvertently caused the shark further distress.
"After low tide and no further sightings, 'mini jaws' had seemingly made it out of the bay and so the CRT were stood down."
Porbeagle sharks:
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. They can reach lengths of up to 12 feet (3.65 meters) and weigh over 500 pounds (230 kilograms).
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.
Although porbeagles are physically capable of attacking humans, very few attacks have been attributed to the species. According to the International Shark Attack File, there have only been three incidents involving a porbeagle bite - one provoked and two on boats when fishers were boarding the shark.
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