Kayakers discover dead great white shark on northern Nova Scotia beach
A male great white shark, that measured four metres in length and weighed 580 kilograms, was found deceased in Caribou, Pictou County, last Friday. Photo by Submitted by Peggy SimpkinArticle contentWhile on a recent kayak adventure off the shores of Pictou County, some members of the Scotsburn 55 Club came across a deceased great white shark on a beach.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentSandra Malenfant said the group, which also included Peggy Simpkin, Joan Clark and Holly Irons, made the shark discovery on a beach on the backside of Munroe’s Island.Article contentArticle content“We came up a beautiful sandy shore not far from where the ferry from P.E.I. comes in Caribou, and I thought I saw a stump on the beach in the distance, but when we got to it, it was a shark.Article contentArticle content“It was dead, but it hadn’t been there very long because there were no birds,” said Malenfant. “There was one mark on the backside where it looked like it had something coming out of it, like maybe it had been hit by something. But there was no blood or anything like that.”Article contentThe group notified the Department of Fisheries and Oceans immediately.Article contentConfirmed male great white at 580 kilogramsArticle contentThe Marine Animal Response Society (MARS) credited the adventurous kayakers for their prompt reporting of the deceased shark, which enabled MARS response technicians and Dr. Laura Bourque of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative to conduct a thorough necropsy the following day while the carcass was still fresh.Article contentMARS confirmed that the shark was a male great white, which measured four metres in length and weighed 580 kilograms.Article content“No obvious cause of death was identified during the necropsy, and additional diagnostic testing is now underway,” reported MARS in a social media post.Article contentArticle contentWith great white sharks being reported more frequently in Atlantic Canada waters, MARS stressed the importance of a quick response to a deceased shark finding.Article contentArticle content“The sooner an animal is reported, the more we can learn,” stated the MARS message.Article content“Fresh examinations allow us to collect higher-quality samples, document findings more accurately, and gather valuable information about species that are rarely available for scientific study. Every shark we investigate helps improve our understanding of a species that is both protected and endangered in Canadian waters.”Article contentPeople can reach MARS to report a stranded, injured, entangled, or deceased shark or any marine animal in the Maritime provinces at 1-866-567-6277.