Summer job surprise: Shark's 'smile' steals the show during Cape Breton ghost gear project
Barb Sweet | Posted: Aug. 20, 2023, 4:47 p.m. | Updated: Aug. 21, 2023, 11:53 a.m. | 6 Min Read
INVERNESS, N.S. — Melina Collins has an epic story to tell from her summer job.
Collins, the summer science and research co-ordinator for the non-governmental agency Gulf Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board, was running the live feed remote operating camera about a mile (1.6 kilometres) off Inverness when there was a guest appearance: a shark with what looks like a massive grin on its face staring into the lens.
Collins was doing work for the board’s project on ghost gear, of which 75 traps and 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) of other debris such as ropes, nets and buoys were retrieved to date on the west coast of Cape Breton. (The board represents accredited Gulf Nova Scotia Multi-Species Fishermen’s Organizations on broad-based issues of common concern and impact, according to its mission statement)
That’s when the shark happened on the scene, 22.5 metres down in the ocean.
“It kind of approached the camera, figured it wasn’t anything tasty and kind of turned in the other direction not too far from the bottom of the ocean,” Collins recounted of the experience that took place this past Tuesday.
Though Collins wasn’t born for decades yet, she has seen the iconic 1975 film “Jaws” that terrified a generation of North American beachgoers.
“Not quite,” she said of her experience in comparison.“(But) I was more than happy to be 70 feet away on a (fishing) boat when I saw it.”
'A mix of emotions'
The board’s post of the video caused a stir on social media platform Facebook.
“I think people have definitely got a kick out of it. Some people were frightened and some people were excited. There’s a mix of emotions,” she said.
“I don’t think there’s too much panic — it was pretty far off the shoreline, pretty far down.”
The video captured 20 seconds of the shark going about its day.
Melina Collins, a summer student with the Gulf Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board: "I think people have definitely got a kick out of it." - Contributed
“And so we were able to see it swim by and capture the video. It’s the first time I’ve seen anything like that,” said Collins, who is from the community of Brookside, just outside of Halifax.
Normally during the course of the ghost gear project, she said, small fish have been spotted, such as perch.
“To see something this large was definitely surprising. I was amazed. It's not something you see everyday,” Collins said.
“Beautiful shark. Stay safe everyone,” posted one Facebook commenter.
“Just a baby,” said another.
“Whoa, so close, and yet so far away (thank goodness),” said another.
“I knew I could feel a shark around that day,” said yet another.
“I hope Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Canada) starts doing some shark awareness presentations/education for the public given such large predators are hanging around our coastlines,” another commenter said.
According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s website, the great white shark is a highly mobile species and seasonal migrant in Atlantic Canada as it’s part of a widespread Northwest Atlantic population.
Estimated to have declined
That broader population is estimated to have declined by more than 70 per cent since the 1960s because of incidental mortality from fishing. However, the population appears to have remained stable since the 1990s and is projected to remain stable or increase slightly.
The range in Canada’s Atlantic Ocean is New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.
Collins is entering her fourth year studying human kinetics with a minor in health sciences at St. F.X. She aims to become a doctor.
The summer experience with the board has been a great one, she said.
“You gain a lot of different skills and experiences that I wouldn't get anywhere else,” Collins said.
“I think it’s a great organizations hire students for the summer — it’s a great program learn about different areas of work.”
Through the ghost gear project, any living fish or lobster inside the gear or traps is put back in the ocean.
