It’s not a sight you expect to see as you take a stroll across a British coastal rock path – a rare six foot-long shark. Annemarie Simpson and her partner Kev Stewart, who live in the village of Papigoe, in Caithness, Scotland, made the discovery on Wednesday afternoon on rocks at nearby Wick North Head.
The shark is almost two metres long, and Ms Simpson – who lives a short walk away from the coast – said she believed it to be a porbeagle shark. But she lamented that while it was an exciting and interesting find, but added: “I much prefer seeing them alive where they belong.”
Porbeagles are members of the shark family Lamnidae making it a close relative of the great white shark, according to the Wildlife Trusts. They are listed as an internationally vulnerable species and prey on mackerel, herring and squid.
Ms Simpson added: “In Caithness we love our nature: we see a lot of orca here so watching the coast is common to report sightings. It’s not uncommon to find a porpoise or a Risso’s dolphin on the shore in Caithness – but a porbeagle shark, although known in our waters, is definitely a much rarer find onshore.”
Some have speculated the shark was a casualty of Storm Amy, which hit Scotland with damaging high winds earlier this month, or had been injured in an attack by dolphins.
A porbeagle was previously found at Reiss, near Wick, in December 2016.
Ms Simpson, a social care worker, the shark’s fin first caught her attention.
Along with her partner Mr Stewart, a military veteran now training to be an Army chaplain, she headed down to the shoreline for a closer look.
“It’s an interesting find,” she admitted.
At least 21 shark species live in British waters all year round but there are also seasonal visitors, including basking sharks, according to the Shark Trust.