An international team of scientists led by Trinity College Dublin have tagged and released a record-breaking 2.8 m porbeagle shark off the coast of Donegal.
The huge female specimen, estimated to weigh 400-500 lb, is the largest ever recorded in Irish waters and is believed to be 25-30 years old.
Samples of the shark were also taken to examine its reproductive status.
Nicholas Payne, is Assistant Professor at Trinity College Dublin’s Zoology Department. He says the sighting of the porbeagle off Donegal is significant:
