A student from the University of Dalhouse -studies marine biology is sharing an impressive photo of a large white shark that he took while he was in a recent research expedition against the coast of Halifax.
Geraldine Fernández took the image on Wednesday of a cage on a boat operated by Atlantic Shark Expeditions near Sambro, a rural fishing community in the regional municipality of Halifax.
You can see the male shark coming out of the water, looking almost directly at the camera, with your mouth open and your teeth showing.
For some, the image can be threatening. But for Fernández, who studies to become a shark biologist, approaching and personal with the shark was closer to love for the first bite.
“All interaction was [one of] The most elegant, elegant and natural interactions that I have personally had with a shark, “said Friday in an interview with CBC’s MANINSTREET HALIFAX. “He was able to show his size and power without even doing anything.
“People think that these meaningless animals that only attack and, honestly, everything I was doing was see people, being a bit curious, and that day I was very lucky.”
MANINSTREET NSAnother day, another curious great white shark
‘Unique opportunity in life’
When the image was shared on social networks, many of the people who commented thought it had to be the product of artificial intelligence.
But it came from a camera that Fernández had joined a pole. The shark was being monitored from a cage above, where it was parked and by underwater divers.
“This encounter was extremely unique,” said Neil Hammerschlag, founder and president of Atlantic Shark Expeditions.
His company works regularly with researchers such as Fernández. It also offers shark tours for civilians in Halifax and Yarmouth at several times of the year.
“The other big targets we have seen this season, and there have been a handful of them, all have really been cautious,” said Hammerschlag.
“This stayed for hours, they had no interest in the bait … I was more interested in looking at the cage, rubbing against the cage … and looking at what people were doing in the boat.”
Fernández has been obsessed with sharks since he was young.
As a summer research student with the future of the Dalhouse marine ecosystems laboratory, he has been collecting data for a new shark monitoring method, which involves using a tool called “shark bar” to measure the size of sharks in the water.
His close encounter with the Great White Shark is more proof that he is on the right path.
“He definitely felt a unique opportunity in life,” he said. “All he has done is put more impulse in me to continue my research and continue with shark exploration.”
