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㽶ƵֱNothing to be scared of㽶Ƶֱ: Dead shark washes up on B.C. shore

Local wildlife group identifies it as bluntnose sixgill

Kate Fleming was heading out to watch the sunset on Hornby Island Saturday (April 29) when she was told there was a shark a little ways up the beach.

Fleming, who was visiting Hornby and had never seen a shark before, jumped at the opportunity.

The shark had washed up dead on the shore just north of Phipp㽶Ƶֱs Point.

Since then, members of Facebook group Field Naturalists of Vancouver Island identified the shark as a bluntnosed sixgill shark, and also speculated it might have been pregnant.

㽶ƵֱIt is a large shark, but considered to be lethargic and really a non-aggressive shark, so nothing to be scared of,㽶Ƶֱ explained Dr. Jackie King, the research scientist in charge of sharks with the the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Bluntnosed sixgill sharks are just one of 14 shark species that can be found along B.C.㽶Ƶֱs coast.

While they can be found worldwide, King said adult sixgill sharks can be found in the deep waters off the west coast of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii.

What㽶Ƶֱs unique, King said, is that pregnant bluntnosed sixgill sharks will come into areas such as the Strait of Georgia, some deepwater inlets of the west coast of Vancouver Island and Puget Sound to the south of B.C. to give birth. That㽶Ƶֱs why it can be common to find juvenile sharks in the area.

She said Hornby Island is a well known area to see juvenile sixgill sharks. The DFO isn㽶Ƶֱt going to be investigating the shark㽶Ƶֱs cause of death.

㽶ƵֱSharks are fish, and periodically, they do wash up on shore,㽶Ƶֱ explained King, noting that from the photos she㽶Ƶֱs seen the shark is either a juvenile that was ready to leave the area or a pregnant shark.

㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs not common, but it㽶Ƶֱs also not uncommon to have found a pregnant female washed up on shore. Part of which could be interaction with something (or it) could have been stressful trying to give birth.㽶Ƶֱ

If people on B.C.㽶Ƶֱs coast do find sharks, dead or alive, they㽶Ƶֱre asked to report it to the .

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lauren.collins@blackpress.ca

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32624193_web1_230503-BPD-Dead-shark-hornby_1
A dead bluntnosed sixgill shark was found just north of Phipp㽶Ƶֱs Point on Hornby Island over the weekend, April 29-30, 2023. (Kate Fleming photo)


Lauren Collins

About the Author: Lauren Collins

I'm a provincial reporter for Black Press Media's provincial team, after my journalism career took me around B.C. since I was 19 years old.
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