On Jan. 15th 2019, Ocean Ramsey and her team encountered what is possibly the largest great white shark ever recorded. Read below for Ocean’s statement about the event.
Location: “Offshore Oahu”-We are not disclosing the location for public safety Size: Approximately 20ft Long X 8ft Wide
Myself (Ocean Ramsey) and my team @OneOceanDiving /@OneOceanResearch: ** @JuanSharks (Juan Oliphant) @Mermaid_Kayleigh (Kayeligh Burns) and @Forrest_in_focus (Forrest Thomas) and @camgrantphotography (Cam Grant) headed out before sunrise to survey shark populations offshore Oahu.
Shark populations around Hawaii are unfortunately declining and there are currently no laws to protect sharks from being killed for any reason other than banning killing only for their fins and even that law has many loop holes and hasn’t been upheld. We (@OneOceanDiving research team) study shark behavior and we teach people how to avoid adverse interactions. Our research and work aims to help reduce shark related fatalities and educate others on the importance of sharks. We have a program that runs daily off oahu to take people out to teach them about sharks and how to avoid a bite as well as their current conservation plight while we gather shark research data on behavior and abundance and specific individuals. The program is open to the public http://OneOceanDiving.com
Today (Jan 15th) was extremely special because while I (Ocean Ramsey) work with (great) white sharks all around the world they are extremely rare in Hawaii and this individual may be one of the largest recorded and shows similar markings to “Deep Blue” a shark I’ve studied in Isla Guadalupe, Mexico where I’ve done most of my work with white sharks.
This gentle giant swam up and brushed up against our boat repeatedly. There is a theory that large females come here when they are possibly pregnant trailing whales. There was a dead sperm whale in the area and we did observe her from a distance swimming over to it and eating it on a regular basis throughout the day. Sharks role in the ecosystem, to pick off the dead, dying, weak, wounded, sick, injured, etc. there by keeping lower trophic levels healthy and in balance.
I have so much respect for sharks for their ecological role, scientifically, culturally in Hawaii as aumakua, and from a conservation standpoint I’ve dedicated my life to speaking up for them and educating others about them and their plight while studying to continue to understand more about them. We hope these images and videos will spark a movement for more laws to protect sharks here in Hawaii and around the world. Learn more at http://HelpSaveSharks.Org and our websites: http://OneOceanConservation.Org http://OneOceanResearch.Org and OneOceanDiving to experience sharks for yourself without the use of a cage in a safe/guided and very educational experience.
