Greenland shark stranding in Ireland

In April 2026 a dead Greenland shark washed ashore on the tidal flats of County Sligo, Ireland. Measuring about three metres and weighing over 200 kg, the carcass was recovered by the National Museum of Ireland with the help of volunteers and scientists. Researchers from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and University College Cork identified the shark as a deep‑sea species likely over 150 years old, with a potential lifespan of 300‑500 years, making it the longest‑lived vertebrate known.

The stranding is the first documented case of a Greenland shark on the Irish coast, offering a rare opportunity to study the species’ biology, ecology, and the toxic composition of its flesh. Marine biologists highlighted the shark’s extremely slow growth and late reproductive age, underscoring challenges for its conservation.

The carcass was wrapped in seaweed to deter scavengers and later moved to a laboratory in a rescue operation coordinated by the National Museum of Ireland. Marine biologist Emilie De Loose (Irish Whale and Dolphin Group) lamented that the animal likely had not yet reproduced, while University College Cork PhD candidate Jasmine Stavenow Jerremalm expressed amazement at the find. The forthcoming necropsy aims to shed further light on the shark’s extraordinary longevity and to inform broader marine research.

The find has prompted calls for continued study of the shark’s life history and its role in the deep North Atlantic ecosystem.