A rare sighting of a basking shark in Nova Scotia’s Bedford Basin surprised residents and attracted attention after the large marine animal remained in the area for an extended period Friday evening.
Bedford resident John Calder said he had never previously seen a shark in the basin. While returning home from work, he noticed a group of people gathered on the Shore Drive Bridge. After stopping to investigate, he saw two large fins emerging from the water.
Marine biologist and shark researcher Neil Hammerschlag reviewed several videos of the animal posted online and identified it as a basking shark.
Hammerschlag said the species is harmless to humans because it feeds mainly on plankton. Basking sharks are often seen close to the surface, which gives the impression that they are resting in the sun.
The shark was particularly noticeable because basking sharks are the world’s second-largest fish and can be easily spotted when swimming near the surface.
Although the animal attracted considerable attention, its presence in the Bedford Basin was highly unusual. The waterway is surrounded by populated areas and numerous sailboats, making the appearance of such a large shark there uncommon.
Hammerschlag described the sighting as an exceptional opportunity to observe one of the world’s largest fish close to the shoreline.
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