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Antarctic Sleeper Shark Filmed at 490 m Depth Off South Shetland Islands

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Sleeper Shark Recorded at 490 m Near South Shetland Islands 3‑4 m sleeper shark was captured on video in January 2025 at a depth of 490 m (1,608 ft) off the South Shetland Islands, overturning the long‑standing belief that sharks avoid Antarctic waters [1]. The footage shows the shark lingering in the warmest layer of a stratified water column, where temperature measured 1.27 °C [1]. Researchers note this is the first documented shark sighting that far south, expanding known shark distribution limits [1].

Camera Deployment by Minderoo‑UWA Deep‑Sea Centre The Minderoo‑UWA Deep‑Sea Research Centre installed a remotely operated camera at the same depth, operating in near‑freezing water below 60° S latitude [1]. The instrument recorded continuously throughout the Southern Hemisphere summer (December‑February), capturing the shark’s behavior during that period [1]. The centre’s director, Alan Jamieson, emphasized the rarity of such deep‑sea observations in the Southern Ocean [1].

Scientists Highlight Significance and Possible Climate Links Conservation biologist Peter Kyne called the observation “quite significant,” noting no prior Antarctic shark records existed [1]. Kyne suggested warming oceans could be driving sharks farther south, while also acknowledging sleeper sharks may have persisted undetected due to sparse data [1]. The finding raises questions about hidden shark populations and their potential response to climate change [1].

Limited Seasonal Coverage Leaves Most Year Unobserved Camera deployments occur only during the summer months, leaving roughly 75 % of the year without visual monitoring [1]. This seasonal gap means occasional surprises, like the shark sighting, may go unnoticed for much of the time [1]. Expanding year‑round deep‑sea observation could reveal additional undocumented marine life in Antarctic waters [1].

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Timeline

January 2025 – A 3‑4 m sleeper shark appears on a camera at 490 m depth off the South Shetland Islands, the first confirmed shark record that far south, challenging the belief that sharks avoid Antarctic waters; founding director Alan Jamieson notes no prior records and conservation biologist Peter Kyne calls the sighting “quite significant”[2].

2025 (throughout the year) – Illegal fishing and market demand in North Africa result in at least 40 protected great white sharks being killed along Mediterranean coasts, underscoring the species’ Critically Endangered IUCN status and prompting urgent calls for regional action[1].

2025 (mid‑year) – Researchers from Virginia Tech and the Blue Marine Foundation conduct a two‑week tagging mission in the Strait of Sicily, deploying three tonnes of bait and 500 L of tuna oil, but fail to locate any great whites and only capture a brief view of a blue shark, highlighting the scarcity of the target species[1].

2025 (mid‑year) – A juvenile great white shark is caught and killed in a North African fishery about 20 nm from the study site; investigators cannot determine whether the catch was accidental or intentional, illustrating the ongoing threat to the remaining population[1].

2024‑2025 – The EU and 23 Mediterranean nations maintain a regional agreement that bans retention, landing, and sale of 24 threatened shark species, including great whites, though enforcement varies across countries, providing a legal framework for conservation efforts[1].

December 30, 2025 – US researchers publicly warn that Mediterranean great whites face near‑extinction without swift, collaborative measures, while noting a “glimmer of hope” that surviving individuals may still persist if coordinated action is taken[1].

February 18, 2026 – Scientists from the Minderoo‑UWA Deep‑Sea Research Centre release analysis of the Antarctic sleeper‑shark footage, confirming it as the first recorded shark that far south and suggesting that warming oceans or previously undetected populations may explain its presence; they also stress that limited camera coverage leaves 75 % of the year unmonitored, highlighting the need for expanded deep‑sea monitoring in future Southern‑Hemisphere summers[2].

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