I Think We're Gonna Need A Smaller Boat

Collected on August 18 near Malibu, California, Monterey Bay Aquarium’s latest acquisition is creating quite a thrill. Added to the Open Sea exhibit on September 1, the 4’7”, 43-pound predator is drawing attention away from the previously favored scalloped hammerhead sharks and my personal favorite, the mola mola – or ocean sunfish. He is the sixth of his kind at the aquarium. He is the fearful, ferocious great white shark.

Photo courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium

Granted, at his meager size, the juvenile is not as “great” as his on-screen brother Jaws. But, the white shark is still a site to behold. After spending nearly two weeks in a holding pen for observation, the shark was determined to be ready for display, the pelagic rays and green sea turtles were removed for their safety, and he was placed in the newly refurbished million-gallon tank for visitors to marvel upon.

Excited, I traveled to the aquarium after class on Friday to gander at the most dreaded of all sea dwellers. Not to say I was disappointed, but the juvenile is indeed small. Outsized by both the larger of the hammerheads and nearly all of the dolphinfish, the shark seems mediocre when compared to his roommates. Not to be outdone by the “new guy,” one of the hammerheads wowed spectators with an impressive display of devouring an unfortunate sardine who had strayed too far from the safety of his school. Well played, hammerhead. Well played.

Regardless of his diminutive size, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see one of nature’s most voracious predators. I look forward to returning to the aquarium to see how quickly this little guy will grow into the nightmare of ocean-goers everywhere.