BLOCK ISLAND, R.I. — A joint research team investigating a dead humpback whale near Block Island recorded what may be the first underwater video evidence of a great white shark in Rhode Island waters.
How the sighting unfolded
Researchers from the Atlantic Shark Institute and Mystic Aquarium were searching a roughly 50-square-mile area to locate a 40-foot humpback whale carcass when they discovered the whale a few miles offshore. While documenting the scene, the team filmed an approximately 8-foot shark feeding on the carcass, according to the Atlantic Shark Institute and Mystic Aquarium.
"In what just might be a first in Rhode Island waters, our Executive Director Jon Dodd was able to get beautiful underwater pictures and video of a great white shark," the Atlantic Shark Institute wrote on social media.
The video shows the shark swimming around the whale remains and the researchers’ vessel. Mystic Aquarium’s Sarah Callan, manager of animal rescue, was part of the team on the trip, which combined field observation and documentation of the whale.
Why this matters locally
Even a single documented great white sighting can be important to scientists tracking the movements of apex predators. Such observations provide data points about where large sharks travel and feed, and they can signal shifts in local marine food webs.
- Research value: Visual evidence helps map predator presence and behavior.
- Ecosystem signals: Sharks feeding on a whale carcass can reflect prey availability and changes in ocean conditions.
- Public interest and safety: Sightings prompt updates from local authorities and recreational ocean users.
Scientists say changes in ocean temperatures and human impacts on marine life — including ship strikes, entanglement or other causes of whale deaths — can alter where predators congregate. Video and location data from this encounter will help regional researchers determine whether great whites are becoming more common visitors to Rhode Island waters or if this was an isolated event.
What boaters and beachgoers should know
Local authorities and marine research organizations typically use documented sightings to inform advisories and outreach. For now, this encounter is a significant data point for researchers rather than an indication of widespread shark activity near shore. Boaters, anglers and swimmers should continue to follow standard marine-safety guidance and consult local beach or harbor officials for any advisories.
The footage and photos from Jon Dodd, executive director of the Atlantic Shark Institute, and the Mystic Aquarium team add to a growing archive of observations that shape how the region understands its marine predators. For Rhode Island — with its extensive coastline, busy harbors and recreational fisheries — even rare events like this help scientists and the public adapt to a changing ocean.
