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Rare shark caught in North Sea
FISHERMEN made an unusual catch when they netted a rare shark off the North East coast.
The 8ft porbeagle shark, weighing 400lb, was the star attraction at North Shields Fish Quay, after being caught by trawlermen fishing in the North Sea.
It has now been gutted by a local fishmonger and its meat is being sold to the public for 10 a kilo.
Anthony Asiamiah, from Seaview Fisheries, said: "It's a lovely meat and tastes a bit like chicken, so we are expecting to sell it fast.
"We only tend to get one a year, so it will disappear fast."
However, Zahra D'Aronville, curator of the Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth, said: "I think it's a shame this specimen was caught.
"The porbeagle is considered vulnerable to extinction, and the meat is only expensive because of the animal's novelty.
"It's an unusual shark in that it can jump fully out of the water, and is also among the fastest sharks."
The porbeagle, often mistaken for a great white or a mako, as it comes from the same family, is rarely seen so close to shore.
It lives on a diet of mainly boney fish, including mackerel, herring, lancetfish and sauries, and was able to survive in the chilly North Sea due to its ability to raise its body temperature several degrees above the surrounding water temperature.
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Weather for South Shields
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
