First Recorded Shark Sighting in Antarctic Waters

In January 2025, researchers from the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre captured video footage of a southern sleeper shark at a depth of approximately 490 meters (1,608 feet) near the South Shetland Islands, off the Antarctic Peninsula. This sighting is significant as it marks the first recorded instance of a shark in Antarctic waters, challenging long-held assumptions that the frigid temperatures of the Southern Ocean are inhospitable to such predators. The shark, estimated to measure between 3 and 4 meters (10 to 13 feet) in length, was filmed in near-freezing water with a temperature of about 1.27 degrees Celsius (34.29 degrees Fahrenheit).

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Historically, scientists believed that sharks could not survive in the cold waters surrounding Antarctica. The southern sleeper shark is typically found in warmer regions of the Southern Ocean, from central Chile to the sub-Antarctic Islands. Alan Jamieson, the founding director of the research center, noted that there was no prior record of sharks in the Antarctic Ocean, also known as the Southern Ocean, which is defined as waters below the 60-degree south latitude line.

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The discovery raises questions about the potential impact of climate change on marine species distribution. Peter Kyne, a conservation biologist at Charles Darwin University, suggested that warming ocean temperatures could be driving sharks further south. However, he acknowledged the limited data available on marine life in this remote region, making it difficult to ascertain the full extent of these changes. The stratified nature of the Antarctic Ocean, with layers of varying temperatures and salinities, may create conditions that allow sharks to inhabit these depths.

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While the sighting is celebrated as a significant scientific breakthrough, some experts caution against jumping to conclusions regarding the implications of climate change. The remoteness of the Antarctic region has led to a lack of comprehensive research, and it is possible that sleeper sharks have existed in these waters undetected for years. Kyne emphasized the need for further research to understand the prevalence of sharks in Antarctic waters and the ecological implications of their presence.

Gizmodo

Alan Jamieson remarked on the unexpected nature of the discovery, stating, “We went down there not expecting to see sharks because there’s a general rule of thumb that you don’t get sharks in Antarctica.” He further noted the rarity of research cameras operating at such depths, which typically only function during the Southern Hemisphere summer months, leaving much of the year unmonitored.

A shark where scientists didn’t expect one: First-ever footage captured in Antarctica’s icy deep

The sighting of the sleeper shark in Antarctic waters underscores the need for increased research efforts in this largely unexplored region. Future studies may provide valuable insights into how climate change and other environmental factors are reshaping the ecology of the Antarctic Ocean and the species that inhabit it.

GizmodoScientists Record First Known Shark in Antarctic Waters at 1,608 FeetExpress TribuneStraight Arrow NewsA shark where scientists didn’t expect one: First-ever footage captured in Antarctica’s icy deep

• “We went down there not expecting to see sharks because there’s a general rule of thumb that you don’t get sharks in Antarctica,” — Alan Jamieson, Founding Director, Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre

Associated Press

• “This is great. The shark was in the right place, the camera was in the right place, and they got this great footage,” — Peter Kyne, Conservation Biologist, Charles Darwin University

Express Tribune