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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

Researchers record deep-sea goblin shark in Pacific Ocean

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Researchers have recorded footage of a goblin shark at a depth of 2,000 meters in the Pacific Ocean's Tonga Trench and near Jarvis Island.
  • This rare sighting of the deep-sea creature, often called a "living fossil," provides new insights into its behavior.
  • The expedition, conducted by the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre and the University of Hawaii, expands the known geographical range of the goblin shark.

A deep-sea expedition in the Pacific Ocean has captured unprecedented footage of a goblin shark, a rare and elusive species, at a depth of approximately 2,000 meters. The sightings occurred in the Tonga Trench and near Jarvis Island during separate expeditions in August 2024 and July 2019, respectively.

Goblin sharks are charismatic deep-sea animals. I wasn't expecting to see one alive (on underwater camera footage).

— Director of the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research CentreThe director expressed surprise and excitement at seeing the goblin shark alive on camera, highlighting the creature's charismatic nature.

These recordings mark a significant achievement for scientists, offering a glimpse into the life of a creature often referred to as a "living fossil." Previously, knowledge of goblin sharks was limited to carcasses washed ashore or specimens caught in fishing nets. The Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre and the University of Hawaii led the research, which was published in the Journal of Fish Biology.

Not only did we see a goblin shark, but we also found that this species is the deepest white shark ever found.

— JamiesonJamieson noted the significance of the discovery, emphasizing that the goblin shark is the deepest-dwelling white shark recorded.

According to the study, the R/V Dagon research vessel was used for the Inkfish Open Ocean Expedition, which spent 50 days recording continuously at depths ranging from 800 to 10,800 meters. The 20-second goblin shark footage provides crucial data, confirming it as the deepest-dwelling white shark ever discovered and significantly expanding its known geographical distribution beyond the coasts of the United States, Australia, Japan, and the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

This is proof of how difficult it is to find this species.

— JamiesonJamieson highlighted the rarity and difficulty of encountering goblin sharks, underscoring the importance of the expedition's success.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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