3m giant white shark clashes with research team

A marine research organization team working in Mossel Bay, South African, took a big surprise when a 3 meter white shark soared into the air and landed in their research vessel Wednesday. The research vessel, carrying a total of six crew members including a field specialist, had been conducting a research for a population dynamics study that had been ongoing for three years.

The crew were checking the movement of the great white shark, but the creature had jumped shocking the researchers.

Dorien Schroder, a field specialist and the leader of the crew, spoke about the incident; “I hear a splash, and see a white shark breach out of the water from side of the boat hovering, literally, over the crewmember who was chumming on the boats portside.”

Schroder automatically sprang into action and quickly pulled the crew members to the boat's platform for their safety. The shark, weighing over 500kg, landed on top of the fuel and bait storage containers with only half of its body onto the boat. The panicked shark began thrashing around, damaging essential equipments to the boat as weell as cutting the fuel line as it struggled on the boats deck.

Schroder calmed her crew and contacted for help as they thought of ways to get the shark back into the ocean both quickly and safely. The crew began by pouring water over the shark's gills to breathe.

They then tied the rope around the tail of the shark to push the shark back into water but was unsuccessful due to the creature's heavy weight. Eventually, port authority was contacted and was requested a crane to assist in lifting the shark by its tail.

Approximately 30 minutes was consumed in releasing the shark safely back into the ocean as well as helping the shark regain its orientation. Sharks such as this great white shark, have often been known to jump up into the air to catch its prey or for communication. Schroder spoke, “When working with animals this large you have to take every precaution possible to ensure the safety of the scientists and sharks.

However, it is impossible to predict everything that can happen. What is important is how you respond to such situation. No one was injured and the shark survived, this is a credit to our team, the port authorities and members of the community who assisted.”