Rare basking shark caught off Portland
A rare basking shark has been caught off the west coast of Victoria.
The six-metre, two-tonne monster of the deep was accidentally caught by a fishing trawler off Portland, in western Bass Strait.
Tissue samples, stomach contents and vertebrae have been taken from the shark for further scientific research.
"These rare encounters can provide many of the missing pieces of knowledge that help broader conservation and biological research," Dr Martin Gomon, of Museum Victoria, said.
As the second biggest fish species on the planet, there is very little known about basking sharks.
They feed on plankton and can grow up to a whopping 12 metres in length.
The species are better known to inhabit waters in the northern hemisphere, with southern populations rarely seen and ever rare in museums.
Museum Victoria has only encountered three animals in more than 160 years of documenting Victoria's wildlife.
Di Bray, of Vertebrae Zoology, said: "These animals have been sighted live over the years in Victoria, including one recently being filmed feeding in Western Port Bay.
"As they do not need to breathe air like whales and dolphins, they are not so commonly seen at the surface. We have no idea what their numbers may be."
Museum Victoria scientists travelled to Portland to measure, describe and take samples from the shark.
The head and fins have also been collected and taken to Melbourne to build a full-scale exhibition model of the shark.
