Public invited to view great white shark dissection

A great white shark caught near Depoe Bay, Ore. in August is going to be dissected beginning this afternoon, and the public is invited to watch the procedure.

The necropsy will take place at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center, where the shark has been kept frozen since it was confiscated from the anglers who caught it (under both federal and state laws, taking or possessing a great white shark is illegal). OSU professors and students are hoping to learn more about the shark's general state of health before its death.

The dissection will be shown live via a closed-circuit feed to the Visitor Center's Hennings Auditorium, where it will be projected on the auditorium's big screen. Marine educators will be on hand to answer questions.

The 12-foot shark was brought into Depoe Bay by some recreational fishermen Aug. 11. The anglers told the State Police Fish and Wildlife Division officer at the dock that the shark had become entangled in their crab gear and was brought to the surface when they pulled in the pots.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A 12-foot great white shark is displayed the day it was caught near Depoe Bay, Ore. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[john]

Sorry if this is off topic but I’m thinking of buying this book. Curious if anyone’s has checked out the new book “Hell’s Aquarium” by Steve Alten? I know he’s been a best selling author before, but wanted to see if anyone had read this book first? It’s about the ancient prehistoric shark Megalodon, which makes the current Great White Shark look like a gold fish. Check out the trailer below, pretty awesome:

http://www.variancepublishing.com/meg-hells-aquarium-contest.html