Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 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

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×