Jaws Anniversary Coincides With Real-Life Shark Sighting In Rhode Island

Just in time for the 50th anniversary of “Jaws,” a real-life shark sighting had New Englanders channeling their best “shahk in the pawnd” impressions this week. The moment unfolded at the end of last month near Block Island, Rhode Island; it was here, in the calm waters of the Great Salt Pond, that diners enjoying a seafood meal at Dead Eye Dick’s spotted something unusual slicing through the surface.

A pair of unmistakable dorsal fins.

Phones came out, videos were taken, and soon even the NGO Atlantic Shark Institute was sharing the footage of the sizable animal online. The organization, which monitors shark activity throughout the region, joked about the parallel to the infamous movie and invited the public to guess what kind of shark had found its way into the sheltered saltwater lagoon.

Speculation quickly flooded the comments. Guesses ranged from great whites to sand tigers to makos. But the truth was far less dramatic and dangerous. In the video, the silhouette looked imposing, and anyone unfamiliar with shark species could understandably assume it was something dangerous. The shark, as confirmed later by the institute’s executive director Jon Dodd, was a basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus). Enormous, yes, as they are the second largest fish in the ocean after the whale shark. But dangerous? Not quite. They’re filter-feeders, cruising through the ocean with mouths wide open to scoop up plankton, not people.

The one in the Great Salt Pond was around 20 feet long (just over 6 meters), making it relatively modest for its species, which can grow over 40 feet (12 meters) in length. Still, seeing an animal that size in a place where people typically kayak, swim, and anchor boats is enough to give anyone pause. “The size of these sharks, the height of the dorsal fin, and how they move can be a real attention getter!” said Dodd to a local outlet. “They can look quite a bit like a great white shark at a glance, or from distance, and that can put people into a panic and justifiably so based on where you might be at the time (think in the water!)” Basking sharks, despite their size, pose no threat to humans. They have tiny teeth, no interest in large prey, and spend most of their time following plankton blooms. And yes, they can look eerily similar to great white sharks, especially if your only reference is the iconic 1975 Spielberg film. “The good news? They’ve never been implicated in any bite on a human being, as noted in the International Shark Attack File. They are endangered in some parts of the world and considered “vulnerable” here in the U.S.,” ASI explained.

While the scene may have triggered some instinctive unease, experts were quick to clarify there was no cause for concern. “Sharks are arriving in Rhode Island daily,” the Atlantic Shark Institute continued in a Facebook post, “as water temperatures continue to rise and more and more species of shark find them suitable to their liking.” This is part of a larger trend tied to climate change and warming ocean temperatures, which are shifting where marine animals spend their time during the summer months. It’s no surprise then that basking sharks, which are normally seen off the coast in deeper waters, are making occasional detours into shallower inlets like Great Salt Pond. Fortunately for any nervous swimmers, the shark didn’t linger. By the next day, it had likely found its way back out to open water, leaving only ripples (and viral footage) in its wake.

As we mark the anniversary of “Jaws,” it’s worth recognizing how far we have come as a society. Fifty years ago, a scene like this might have ended in alarm and calls for the removal of the individual (likely leading to a grim end for the shark in question). Today, it ends with a Facebook post, a science lesson, and a bit of local pride. After all, not every summer hotspot gets a visit from one of the ocean’s true giants.