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MADURAI, India -- A 10-ton white shark was netted by fishermen, 30 nautical miles from Therezpuram coastal village in Tuticorin district Monday.

The fishermen pulled the shark from the deep sea to about 25 feet from the shore, after which they found it difficult to drag it further. Their efforts to drag the shark ashore with the help of a lorry also went in vain.

Later, officials of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute came to the spot with a crane which they used to winch the shark to the shore.

The director of the institute, Venkatramani said the shark measured 10 meters in length and six metres in diameter. "It is a white shark. It is not edible," he said.

Reader Comments

13 people have commented so far. add your comment

Whale shark? White shark? Ten metres long? 6m in diameter... Are they sure they are talking about a white shark... funny...
     - michael · austria · Jul 15, 2008 @ 11:34pm

need a photo of this one. would be largest white shark ever officially recorded. jaws was only 25 feet . 10 meters is over 30 feet , if true its a monster.
     - jerry dee · brooklyn ny · Jul 16, 2008 @ 5:46am

some reports say whale shark. thats probably what it is. disappointing !!!!
     - jerry dee · brklyn ny · Jul 16, 2008 @ 5:55am

Disappointing whether it's a whale shark or a white shark, either way - these animals are rare and getting rarer.
     - James · California, USA · Jul 16, 2008 @ 12:23pm

- Editor: Most likely it's a whale shark, which are known to visit the area. As far as I know, white sharks are not known to Indian waters.

There is no way this is a great white. More than likely a whale or maybe a basking shark. If by some chance it's true then it would be the largest white ever caught. The current record is a little over 23 feet. I'll keep looking for more information on this one...
     - Joe · Independence, KY · Jul 16, 2008 @ 12:27pm

Anyone ever heard of an albino whale shark? Would love to see a picture whatever it is.
     - susan · us · Jul 16, 2008 @ 2:32pm

thought white sharks are around in the indian ocean i find it unlikely that a 30 foot specimen is found in an area with no normal food source for a white
     - marshall singleton · frankfort usa · Jul 16, 2008 @ 4:01pm

I'd bet my house it's a Whale shark...I've seen previous reports where species are misidentified. Marshall is right in saying that White sharks are not typically found in that area. Albino White sharks - I've heard of one report in S.Africa years ago!!
     - Jerry Conway · Bournemouth, UK · Jul 21, 2008 @ 5:40am

They said,Later, officials of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute came to the spot those people are not amateurs????? and The director of the institute, Venkatramani said the shark measured 10 meters in length and six metres in diameter. "It is a white shark. It is not edible," he said. Who knows maybe a MEGALODON
     - oz · fort wayne USA · Jul 22, 2008 @ 9:13am

A GWS of that size would be headline news around the world..I can't find a thing on it let alone a picture...If proven true that's 3 meters longer than the 7m Maltese white shark of 87 & 7 tons heavier than the Cuban 1945 record...Again very unlikely...I hope I am proved wrong!! Regards Gerry
     - Jerry Conway · Bournemouth, UK · Jul 23, 2008 @ 5:35am

I hope this was already dead when they tried to 'drag it in'. And whats with the edible comment?
     - Rich Martin · Reading, England · Jul 25, 2008 @ 8:44am

There is no scientist in CMFRI with a name Venkatramani , and Director during 2007-08 was Dr.N.G.K Pillai and present director is Dr.Syeda Rao.for your confirmation pls visit www.cmfri.com or contact CMFRI
     - Akhilesh · India · Sep 19, 2008 @ 3:55am

reply to oz · fort wayne USA · Jul 22, 2008 @ 9:13am CMFRI people are very eminent in their fields...Venkatramani doesnt belong to CMFRI
     - Shanis · India · Sep 19, 2008 @ 4:00am