Goblin Shark Seen Alive in Natural Deep-Sea Habitat for First Time

For the first time, marine biologists have successfully filmed a goblin shark, *Mitsukurina owstoni*, alive in its natural deep-sea environment. These elusive creatures, known for their distinctive appearance and deep-water habitats, have historically only been observed after being caught by fishermen and brought to the surface.

Marine biologist Alan Jamieson, part of a team exploring the Pacific Ocean's Tonga Trench, the second-deepest oceanic trench on Earth, captured the groundbreaking footage using a remote, baited camera. "The Goblin Shark is one of these deep-sea charismatic animals that I never thought we'd see alive," Jamieson stated in a press release accompanying a study on the findings. "And then to do so was amazing, but to then learn that colleagues in Hawai'i also saw one was just incredible."

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The Goblin Shark is one of these deep-sea charismatic animals that I never thought we'd see alive, and then to do so was amazing, but to then learn that colleagues in Hawai'i also saw one was just incredible.

The study, published in the Journal of Fish Biology, details two significant observations. The first occurred in 2019 during an Ocean Exploration Trust expedition aboard the M/V Nautilus, owned by Robert Ballard. Researchers reviewing footage from remote areas near Jarvis Island and the Palmyra Atoll identified the shark. The second sighting took place in 2024 in the Tonga Trench.

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Seeing the most iconic of all the deep-sea sharks alive and looking healthy in its natural habitat is a unique honour.

Aaron Judah, a researcher at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa's Department of Oceanography and an author of the study, expressed his awe at the discovery. "Seeing the most iconic of all the deep-sea sharks alive and looking healthy in its natural habitat is a unique honor," Judah said. "I was also very surprised about how deep this species was found. The observation from the slope of the Tonga Trench is nearly 700 meters deeper than this species was known to live."

These discoveries significantly expand the known geographic range of the goblin shark and provide crucial data on the depth capabilities of lamniform sharks. The goblin shark, averaging about 12 feet in length, is characterized by its pink, flabby skin and prominent, elongated snout, giving it a somewhat menacing yet fascinating appearance.

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I was also very surprised about how deep this species was found. The observation from the slope of the Tonga Trench is nearly 700 meters deeper than this species was known to live.