Nine-foot shark found stranded on West Cork beach

Animal washed up on Sheep's Cove near Clonakilty was identified as a blue shark

The 9ft blue shark spotted stranded on a Sheep's Cove near South Ring in Co Cork.  Picture: Danielle Orrell via Twitter

A group of researchers were alerted to the scene of a dead 9.5ft shark after it was found stranded on a West Cork beach over the weekend. 

On Sunday evening, marine biologist Dr Danielle Orrell, PhD Student Jasmine Stavenow and conservationist Victoria Knight were able to identify the dead animal on Sheep's Cove near Clonakilty as a blue shark.

Wearing special protective gear to protect herself from zoonotic diseases, Dr Orrell — with her team — was able to carry out testing and sampling to see how the shark had ended up on the beach. 

Yesterday evening, we were alerted to a 9ft shark spotted stranded on a local beach in Co. Cork 🇮🇪 (1/5)🧵 pic.twitter.com/ljgNo0cGCX

— Danielle Orrell (@DaniOrrell) October 2, 2023

Dr Orrell told the Irish Examiner it was "not particularly common for sharks to wash up on beaches". 

She said the blue shark is usually found in Irish waters between June and September. This is because they migrate long distances towards cooler water, and those living in the North Atlantic migrate northwards in the summer. 

The group of three were able to determine that the animal that washed up was a mature male blue shark who measure 2.91m (9.5ft) and was about 10 years of age. Picture: Danielle Orrell via Twitter

According to Inland Fisheries, the blue shark is listed as "near threatened" and are often a major bycatch of fisheries for tuna and billfish. 

The group of three was able to determine the animal that washed up was a mature male blue shark who measure 2.91m (9.5ft) and was about 10 years of age. 

"They can live up to 20 years old, that is what we think, and they reach sexual maturity for the males at about five or six [years]. So I would guess that it is definitely a mature male," Dr Orrell said. 

The UCC researcher working with the MaREI Research Centre said by carrying out sampling there is a "wealth of information we can take from a stranding like that", including genetic connectivity or even identifying what the shark's diet might be.

Dr Orrell also added that the shark found in Sheep's Cove did not show any evident cause of death such as lacerations or external markings.

She also expressed caution on approaching dead animals on beaches due to infections and diseases that may be on their bodies.