Monterey Bay Aquarium hopes to modify 'Jaws' image
Quest to capture predator of seas (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/07/09/SHARKS.TMP&nl=top)

QuikQuote™:
Scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium have embarked on an effort to become the first in the world to capture a great white shark and keep it alive in captivity.

But they also acknowledge that doing so may prove almost as difficult as making people love the giant predator.
[...]
"There is absolutely no question the population is increasing," said [fishing boat captain Tim] Athens, who wore a gold fishhook pendant around his neck and said he had at home the monstrous jaws of a 1,000-pounder he caught a number of years ago. "You can trust them or trust someone who spends 200 days a year on the water," he said dryly of the shark count.

I wonder if he told them they would need a bigger boat? :D

Hmmm, I think I heard about this already. It's called Jaws 3-D (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0085750).

You always want what you can't have :rolleyes:

Originally posted by cstephens
Hmmm, I think I heard about this already. It's called Jaws 3-D (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0085750). Oooo yeah, those were my first thoughts! Didn't they use SeaWorld as a backdrop for that story, though? For Monterey Bay Aquarium, I always have visions of George and Martha, the humpback whales from Star Trek IV. :)

Psssst..... Lani, actually it's George and Gracie (Burns) that were the humpbacks ;)

COOL! I'd love to see a GW up close but not too personal.

I hope if they do accomplish this they remember the attempts 20-30 years ago. It would be an awesome experience to see a GW up close without having to go diving in shark cages.

Well... I think it's a basically impossible task, but if there was any place in the world that would have a chance I'd say it was the Monterey Aquarium. They've got one HUGE tank for mid-oceanic fish that could probably handle it, and I'd definitely drive over the hill to see a Great White any day, along with a lot of other people most likely.

Originally posted by Icy Bacon
Well... I think it's a basically impossible task, but if there was any place in the world that would have a chance I'd say it was the Monterey Aquarium. They've got one HUGE tank for mid-oceanic fish that could probably handle it

So what are they gonna do with all the fish that are in the tank now?

Maybe it's just me, but this little effort actually makes me think less of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It's like a disaster waiting to happen.

Well, at least they're not trying to catch a supersonic psychic great white shark... :rolleyes:

Originally posted by cstephens
Well, at least they're not trying to catch a supersonic psychic great white shark... :rolleyes:

:confused:

Just a reference to "Jaws 4".

Originally posted by cstephens
So what are they gonna do with all the fish that are in the tank now?



sharks eat fish. tee-hee

I work at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and have been hearing a lot about this project.

They're not going to utilize the million gallon tank for the shark. They are replacing 'Mysteries of the Deep' with a shark exhibit. They're trying to increase the foot traffic in that area with their 'Jellies: Living Art' exhibit and the new GW tank.

The blue prints I have seen for the area are pretty neat. The exhibit is going to take you around the globe with different tanks containing different sharks from around the world. The tanks increase in size until you get to the finale which is the big tank for the GW.

At least, this is its current form. Budget constraints may influence an abbreviated outcome for the exhibit. (They're already over budget.)

I think it is admirable for the MBA to get a GW, but I don't see how they're going to sustain it in captivity. I told one of the exhibits people that they should make sure the sign for the Great White tank is removable so they can put the name of another animal in its slot when the GW croaks. (I know that sounds grim and negative, but its realistic... [They even have problems keeping their mola molas alive...] Most of the shark scientists I know think it's a huge undertaking that is bound to fail...)

On the other hand, if it works (and we'll find out next year) it will make the MBA the most popular aquarium ever.

:)

Originally posted by Lani
For Monterey Bay Aquarium, I always have visions of George and Martha, the humpback whales from Star Trek IV. :)
People still ask us where the humpback whale tank is... :D

I am wondering if in their attemps to get a Great White they will have to put in a memorial plaque. Still I forget, don't great whites get their prey by attack it from the bottom with great force?

Originally posted by Gemini Cricket
The blue prints I have seen for the area are pretty neat. The exhibit is going to take you around the globe with different tanks containing different sharks from around the world. The tanks increase in size until you get to the finale which is the big tank for the GW.It was my impression that the MBA was about education and preservation. I would understand taking in a GW (temporarily) if an injured one happened to turn up in the bay, but to deliberately go out and remove one from its natural habitat when no one's been able to keep a GW in captivity thus far . . . I don't know.

As cool as it sounds (a whole shark exhibit--hooray!), all the publicity is going to turn into a very bad thing when that shark dies. Those aren't going to be very good headlines for the aquarium. Then again, maybe they could make it work and use the big tank for a "small world" kind of exhibit. Sharks from all over the world swimming happily together in peaceful bliss!

Or not.

In any case, I'll plan my next trip to Monterey once I get word that the new shark exhibit's open. If it's any good, GC, you might have to drag me out at the end of the day. :cool:

Well I wonder if they are going to keep it underobservation for months before they open up the exhibit. Plus the MBA is probably all for preservation and rehabilitation but they also need to sell tickets and stuff to get that money to do their good work and I guess a live healthy shark would be more of a thrill.

Plus a sick or injured one might not be a good idea anyway becuase they only sharks they may even see in the bay could be too far gone to help.

I don't think anyone has captured a live GW though... I wouldn't want to have to work in that tank even with all the safeguards.

Still I forget, don't great whites get their prey by attack it from the bottom with great force?They do hunt by ambush, but if it's destined for captivity they'd probably do their best to get it eating frozen meat and only frozen meat so there could be other fish and divers in the tank fairly safely. If it were a shark in rehab to be released into the wild, then they'd definitely try to simulate a hunting experience. I'm not sure if it would be the same for a Great White, but with the hawks and owls I help rehabilitate for Wildlife Rescue, any bird destined for release eventually moves from frozen food (micesicles) to live mice so it can practice hunting... while mice are small and easy to let out into a predator's cage to become dinner, seals and large tuna aren't quite as easy or moral to come by and certainly a lot messier. If a GW is going in the aquarium, I'd bet that an eventual release would be a last resort, but if it can make thousands of people appreciate such a majestic and powerful predator it will have done well.

I wonder if they raised one from a... the word escapes me for a newbord shark or at least infant... is it a pup?

Well if anyone can pull this off ... it is GC's aquarium! That place is just awesome. I agree with Nigels idea, what they were to get a newborn (or very very very young) GW... then the 're training' for food would be less complicated.

But then again I don't know if anyone here knows the Great White's parent child aspect. If it's just one that doesn't stay too attatched then it won't be a problem but if it's a thight bond for a good portion of time then there may be problems.

Nigel, sharks don't have a parent-child relationship. It's more a "swim for your life lest mommy eats you" kind of thing.

Then that takes out that element of danger... Still I wonder if they will be able to find one that is young enough.

i would hardly think that that takes out the element of danger. on the average great white sharks are five feet long when they are born. add that to the fact that if they separate from their mother right away then that means they can take care of themselves, and i'd say there is certainly a risk involved. a lesser risk, but certainly a risk. my question is, how are they going to find a pregnant female and track her until she gives birth, and then find the pup right away? my guess would be that they will try to find a young shark rather than a newborn.

I said that element of danger, not the element of danger. Of course there will be risks but it also means that they wont have to fight off a mother to get a young shark.

oops, my bad. i thought you said the. you're quite right. another thing on there side is that great whites rarely swim with other sharks. is there a projected date for this to happen?