London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Feb 22, 2025

Ultra-rare 'albino' shark is first ever caught off coast of Britain

AN AMATEUR fisherman has snared the first ever "albino" shark caught off the coast of Britain. Jason Gillespie, 50, was deep-sea fishing with some friends near the Isle of Wight when he caught a tope shark that was entirely white.
Jason Gillespie, 50, was deep-sea fishing with some friends near the Isle of Wight when he caught a tope shark that was entirely white.

The shark, which measured around 3ft, is leucistic, a genetic condition which means it's lost all the pigment in its skin.

Under normal circumstances, Jason, from Waterlooville, Hampshire, would have immediately released the shark.

However, due to its unusual colouration, the shop fitter hauled this one on board so he could take a few snaps before letting it go.

Jason said: "I've been fishing for 30 years and I've never seen one like that. apparently it's a condition where the pigment dies out of the skin colour.

"What're the chances? I have no idea. It's the fish of a lifetime, one in a million."

Leucism describes a variety of conditions that cause a creature's feathers, skin, scales or fur to go white.

It's similar to albinism, but only a partial loss of pigment occurs, with the eyes retaining their colour – while albino peepers are a menacing red.

Leucistic creatures are rare because they often don't survive long in the wild having been stripped of their natural camouflage, which makes it harder to capture prey and evade predators.

Jason explained that he had heard of all-white sharks before, but had never seen one in person.

“I [had] heard of one person from Wales who caught one years ago but it was much smaller, about 6 lb,” Jason explained.

“With tope, they are a protected species, so we unhook them in the water, but the minute we saw this one I shouted to my mate to grab the net and knew I needed to get some photos of it so we pulled her on board and took some pictures."

After photographing the shark for what he said was “less than a minute,” Jason released the shark back into the ocean.

The tope shark feed on a variety of fish species and crustaceans, and can travel huge distances.

They are often found near continental shelves and are widely distributed across the planet.

The sharks are commonly found in UK waters and can travel from Britain all the way to the Canary Islands.

They are thought to be harmless to humans, according to MarineBio.org.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Prison Officer Sentenced for Inappropriate Conduct with Inmate
Good News: Senate Confirms Kash Patel as FBI Director
Officials from the U.S. and Hungary Engage in Talks on Economic Collaboration and Sanctions Strategy
James Bond Franchise Transitions to Amazon MGM Studios
Technology Giants Ramp Up Lobbying Initiatives Against Strict EU Regulations
Alibaba Exceeds Quarterly Projections Fueled by Growth in Cloud and AI
Tequila Sector Faces Surplus Crisis as Agave Prices Dive Sharply
Residents of Flintshire Mobile Home Park Grapple with Maintenance Issues and Uncertain Future
Ronan Keating Criticizes Irish Justice System Following Fatal Crash Involving His Brother
Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat Restaurant Faces Unprecedented Theft
Israeli Family Mourns Loss of Peace Advocate Oded Lifschitz as Body Returned from Gaza
Former UK Defense Chief Calls for Enhanced European Support for Ukraine
Pope Francis Admitted to Hospital in Rome Amid Rising Succession Speculation
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, at the age of 83, Declares His Retirement.
Whistleblower Reveals Whitehall’s Focus on Kabul Animal Airlift Amid Crisis
Politicians Who Deliberately Lie Could Face Removal from Office in Wales
Scottish Labour Faces Challenges Ahead of 2026 Holyrood Elections
Leftwing Activists Less Likely to Work with Political Rivals, Study Finds
Boris Johnson to Host 'An Evening with Boris Johnson' at Edinburgh's Usher Hall
Planned Change in British Citizenship Rules Faces First Legal Challenge
Northumberland Postal Worker Sentenced for Sexual Assaults During Deliveries
British Journalist Missing in Brazil for 11 Days
Tesco Fixes Website Glitch That Disrupted Online Grocery Orders
Amnesty International Critiques UK's Predictive Policing Practices
Burglar Jailed After Falling into Home-Made Trap in Blyth
Sellafield Nuclear Site Exits Special Measures for Physical Security Amid Ongoing Cybersecurity Concerns
Avian Influenza Impact on Seals in Norfolk: Four Deaths Confirmed
First Arrest Under Scotland's Abortion Clinic Buffer Zone Law Amidst International Controversy
Meghan Markle Rebrands Lifestyle Venture as 'As Ever' Ahead of Netflix Series Launch
Inter-Island Ferry Services Between Guernsey and Jersey Set to Expand
Significant Proportion of Cancer Patients in England and Wales Not Receiving Recommended Treatments
Final Consultation Launched for Vyrnwy Frankton Power Line Project
Drug Misuse Deaths in Scotland Rise by 12% in 2023
Failed £100 Million Cocaine Smuggling Operation in the Scottish Highlands
Central Cee Equals MOBO Awards Record; Bashy and Ayra Starr Among Top Honorees
EastEnders: Four Decades of Challenging Social Norms
Jonathan Bailey Channels 'Succession' in Bold Richard II Performance
Northern Ireland's First Astronaut Engages in Rigorous Spacewalk Training
Former Postman Sentenced for Series of Sexual Offences in Northumberland
Record Surge in Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes Across the UK in 2024
Omagh Bombing Inquiry Concludes Commemorative Hearings with Survivor Testimonies
UK Government Introduces 'Ronan's Law' to Combat Online Knife Sales to Minors
Metal Detectorists Unearth 15th-Century Coin Hoard in Scottish Borders
Woman Charged in 1978 Death of Five-Year-Old Girl in South London
Expanding Sinkhole in Godstone, Surrey, Forces Evacuations and Road Closures
Bangor University Announces Plans to Cut 200 Jobs Amid £15 Million Savings Target
British Journalist Charlotte Peet Reported Missing in Brazil
UK Inflation Rises to 3% in January Amid Higher Food Prices and School Fees
Starmer Defends Zelensky Amidst Trump's 'Dictator' Allegation
Zelensky Calls on World Leaders to Back Peace Efforts in Light of Strains with Trump
×