Monterey Bay Aquarium's Great White Shark Dies A Week After Release

Monterey Bay Aquarium in California announced this past week that a young great white shark that was released a week earlier has died.

The shark, which was just under five feet long and weighed 52 pounds, was released with a tracking tag on October 25 near Santa Barbara, according to a press release.

Jon Hoech, the aquarium's director of husbandry, said, "This is a very difficult day for all of us, and for everyone who saw and cared about this animal. Based on the shark's behavior and condition prior to release, we had every confidence that he'd do well back in the wild. Unfortunately, that's not how things turned out. We're surprised and saddened by the outcome."

The young great white was caught on August 18 off the coast of Marina del Rey, near Los Angeles. The shark spent 55 days in Monterey as part of the aquarium's "Open Sea" exhibit on ocean animal migrations, reported the Los Angeles Times.

Monterey Bay Aquarium veterinarian Dr. Mike Murray said in a press release, "we had no reservations about whether the shark would do well in the wild."

Since 2004, Monterey Bay Aquarium has exhibited five other great whites, from a few days to several months, all of which survived their release. TODAY reports the aquarium's first great white stayed for six and a half months and was seen by over a million visitors.

The aquarium said their shark research team "will review all of its procedures and protocols" before resuming their shark tagging and tracking program next summer.

Last week, a 27-year-old surfer was bitten in the neck and arm by a shark in waters near Monterey, but has survived. Although the cause of death of the young shark is not known, human attacks on sharks are much more common than shark attacks on swimmers.

Up to 70 million sharks are killed each year by fishermen, according to University of Florida's International Shark Attack File.

In October, California's State Water Resources Control Board granted the Monterey Bay Aquarium an exemption from "a state ban on dumping wastewater in a marine protected zone."

Comments

[Inkosi]

11:43 AM on 11/08/2011

The shark should never have been in their aquarium to begin with.

[Johnd139]

02:00 PM on 11/09/2011

Applause!

[Paula LaRue]

08:11 PM on 11/09/2011

Right. I agree

[Six Gator]

02:11 PM on 11/07/2011

70 million?...

[FlyingMako]

10:04 PM on 11/07/2011

Yep, and that is a conservative estimate. May be closer to 100 million, mostly due to the shark finning trade.

[jlbissette13]

11:32 AM on 11/08/2011

You might be interested this article by Shelley Clarke:

http://www.seaweb.org/getinvolved/oceanvoices/ShellyClarke.php

[Redhunteur]

08:33 AM on 11/08/2011

And more specifically, 70 million shark FINS as that's what the bulk of them are killed for. It's an insane waste and horrifically cruel.

[Jeff Klenck]

12:57 PM on 11/07/2011

Its George Bushes fault.

[Six Gator]

02:12 PM on 11/07/2011

ur about to be "fav'd" to death!.....-they love that here!

[Redhunteur]

08:34 AM on 11/08/2011

What makes you think anyone loves trolling comments?

[Inkosi]

11:41 AM on 11/08/2011

Ole Georgie was not a conservationist so yes, It is as he did nothing to stop it or clean up our oceans. Support Sea Shepherd"..

[oberlinkay91]

11:40 PM on 11/06/2011

This story is lacking details... They don't know what killed the shark... People? Was it in poor health? Another shark? I don't like the minimal information....

[Polar Shift]

04:48 AM on 11/07/2011

ober, I agree, but I think if you google Monterey Aquarium, you'd get their site, and keep up with the results. I don't think they 'know' yet, why this happened. Great Whites, traditionally don't do well in captivity, and Monterey is renowned for their success.

[oberlinkay91]

08:21 AM on 11/07/2011

I may have to check it out and see what it says

[SonyaInTx]

08:34 AM on 11/07/2011

I didn't know that. Thanks for posting :)

[mebemommee06]

09:18 PM on 11/06/2011

Nothing like releasing something that is used to being fed,.. They should have just kept it..Just like that turtle that was released after they patched it up, it was found dead too.. Sometimes is better just to leave it alone..

[jlbissette13]

11:57 AM on 11/07/2011

According to the Aquarium, the shark was released because of changes in the way he was navigating the tank, which could ultimately cause abrasions that could be a source of infection.

[mebemommee06]

12:48 PM on 11/07/2011

and my question.. why take it there? why not leave it alone and let nature take its course!

[Joe Goforth]

09:12 PM on 11/06/2011

It couldn't figure out how to stop swimming in a circle. See what happens when humans interact with animals!

[KJLSanDiego]

12:37 PM on 11/06/2011

Awww! It was just a liddul fellur! Poor thing!

[fldpwrman]

12:27 PM on 11/06/2011

70,000,001

[Just4theHalibut]

12:14 PM on 11/06/2011

I heartily recommend a new book about sharks that is not only informative and entertaining, but one of the best pieces of science journalism I've ever read (and that's one of my favorite reading genres). Demon Fish by Juliet Eilperin discusses the real peril that most shark populations are in right now, while discussing how humans activity lead to this point. She introduces many courageous scientists who are trying to gather baseline data about these complex and fascinating creatures, while they are in the process of disappearing from the oceans. BTW several commentators have expressed skepticism at the annual kill estimate of 70 million; the average (estimate) is 35 million, still much higher than low reproductive rates of sharks can stand. And given the persistent under-reporting and wide-spread poaching activity, it could be even more than 70 m. Contrast this with the 4 people, world-wide, who died from shark attacks last year.

[jlbissette13]

12:42 PM on 11/06/2011

I could be wrong, but doesn't that report take into account the black market segment of shark harvests? It was my understanding that it gathered data about the number of sharks that were actually on the market, not just what was reported, and because of that it accounted for all shark harvests. Again, I very well may be wrong; if I am, please let me know.

And I've never heard of that book, but it's definitely one I'll check out in the near future.

[Just4theHalibut]

01:47 PM on 11/06/2011

There are several recent reports, and you are correct, they do try to estimate the black market numbers. The Demon Fish book has a section on why those estimates are likely low. Hope you enjoy it! I read it through and am now going back to re-read sections. Unfortunately have to get it back to the library, it was new enough to be a "14-day book".

[omobob]

03:21 PM on 11/06/2011

Demon Fish? A another ill conceived marketing rouse meant to further the fear of sharks rather than engender knowledge concerning their habits, life span and mating, which we remain in the dark about. cheers

[Just4theHalibut]

03:55 PM on 11/06/2011

Did you read the book? I am guessing not, by your comments. It was "all about" efforts to learn more about sharks, as well as examining the worldwide social/cultural phenomena that are leading to shark extinction. Though I also thought it was a weird title, not one I would have picked. Meant to be taken ironically, I guess.

[mike morales]

10:44 AM on 11/07/2011

We love the M.B. Aquarium. Our kids grew up going there once a year on average. The capture and release is all marketing and has little to do with great white research in my opinion. When they captured their first great white years back they used the fish for marketing and it was a huge success.
And so be it. The aquarium makes a buck, the species gets some profiling and the public gets a close up look at a so called killer beast. For me seeing the shark close up de-mystified the animal and made me appreciate the species..

[frankerin]

11:47 AM on 11/06/2011

I hardly think these eco do gooders have a real clue as to the needs of a wild white, and at that low weight and youth, it likely hadn't the skills to survive. Let nature take its course. Stop 'saving' damaged or otherwise incapable animals. It is done mostly to satisfy the matronly maternalism of the natural science school graduates and the emotional faculties.

[AnthropologistAmongApes]

12:25 PM on 11/06/2011

Does that mean you think any species is disposable in the wake of greed?

[frankerin]

01:09 PM on 11/06/2011

Ultimately yes. Again although few will do it, read the history of the uses of animals for humanity, and the process whereby species declined even went extinct. A species lives as the population is large. Study if you haven't already the tipping points for survival in habitats. Look at the damage done protecting the canadian goose, the hue and cry after those who cull herds of deer. remember the buffalo with their wooly coats, and the wolves who refuse to read no trespassing signs. Yes, where people can use animals, they will. And you know it. Nor will 'saving' a few, sometimes when nature suggests flaws in birth (can nature have birth defects? ) ultimately cannot resist any species real decline if such is in motion

[Just4theHalibut]

12:48 PM on 11/06/2011

Unlike most mammals, fish (particularly sharks, being from an even more ancient lineage than bony fish) are born with all their survival skills, day one. If it was going to die anyway, wouldn't it be better for it to have some teaching purpose during its short life? Monterrey Bay aquarium is staffed by some of the best fish scientists around. And I am guessing you don't actually know too many people with real biological science degrees, male or female.

[Beth Cataldo]

07:51 PM on 11/06/2011

Have you ever seen the "teaching" that the Monterey Bay Aquarium does with these sharks? It's hundred of people in front of a huge window taking photos. Don't be a fool: The MBA takes these sharks so they can get millions of dollars from the people that come and take photos. I went down there and learning "nothing" about sharks. It is very sad that our government allows them to do this. I've heard volunteers there admit that they learn very, very little about sharks in these tanks.
I'm sorry such a reputable organization does this horrible thing to sharks. I hope their license is revoked.

[DDL13]

11:39 AM on 11/06/2011

The shark obviously couldn't care for himself after being cared for by others, sounds alot like people who also are taken care of by others namely the government, if you left people to care for themselves I doubt that would work out well for them either.

[Zach2194]

12:04 PM on 11/06/2011

Its so nice how you turned a sad story about a shark political.

[AnthropologistAmongApes]

12:26 PM on 11/06/2011

Your understanding of society and human behavior is "barnyard" level.

[janny09]

11:31 AM on 11/06/2011

When the shark was caught, it should have been immediately released. But there are bucks to be made and therefore, the Monterey Aquarium chanrged a fee for viewing a Great White. even if it was a five foot shark. Every scientist know that Great Whites die in captivity and while the youngsters seem to have been successful for the aquarium, this one met an unfortunate end .Perhaps he would have lived, if they hadn't brought him to the aquarium. These sharks and the other 127 species are endangered because of the 70 million harvested by the Asians for shark fin soup. That's all they kill them for: the shark fin and then the body is dumped. The world has to make a plan of protection for sharks as they are the top predator of the oceans and we cannot afford to lose them. When a species is eradicated, it affects the whole balance of the ocean ecosystem.

[irishdoc]

01:10 AM on 11/08/2011

Actually by keeping the sharks in captivity we are learning a great deal from them. There are still so many questions to be asked. Where do the breed? Where do the young spend their time. When, why, and how do they transition between eating fish to killing marine mammals? Protecting great whites means we need to learn from them and we need to teach people about them and demystify them for the public at large. In order to make a "plan of protection" for the Great White, people have to care about it and we need to know what parts of the ocean to protect.

[mkultra23]

11:10 AM on 11/06/2011

That's absurd, to take an animal particularly one still developing, into captivity and expect the experience to have no effect on it. They should be ashamed. Such a predominately callous species we belong to. Poor shark.

[fldpwrman]

12:30 PM on 11/06/2011

sharks have survived unchanged for millions of years. 55 days in captivity would hardly be enough time to erase instinctual behaviors

[freddiefingers]

11:26 AM on 11/07/2011

Didn't you know? Humans are the most intelligent animals on the planet. ( sarcasm )

[Lori Marino]

10:42 AM on 11/06/2011

The Aquarium had no business catching a healthy animal to confine for their exhibit. This tragedy shows that there canm be unforseen consequences associated with captivity and if the Aquarium really did care about animals they would leave them alone.

[ivanhoemb]

11:36 AM on 11/06/2011

If the aquarium left all the animals alone, there would be no aquarium. No aquarium, no way to study different species. No studies, no way to know what positively or negatively affects the animals. The same is true for zoos.

Conservation involves animal management. It does not mean that we should ignore animals.

[Lori Marino]

10:37 AM on 11/07/2011

I've done a lot of research on the so-called educational and conservation claims of the zoo and aquarium industry. I've studied dolphins and whales for over twenty. I wish what you said is true. But it is not. Zoos and aquaria spend a miniscule proportion of their money on conservation. Moreover, there is absolutely no real evidence that zoos and aquaria lead to education in any meaningful sense of the term. Most of the research done on animals in zoos and aquaria is about husbandry and how to get them to reproduce in captivity. Very little of it benefits their wild counterparts. That is the ugly truth of the matter.

[belldn3]

10:20 AM on 11/06/2011

You have to rehabilitate them before they are released back into society. Just like our prison system. Wait a minute, that doesn't work either.