Blue shark found on Lewis

A dead blue shark has been discovered at Barvas on the west side of Lewis . The six-foot long female is suspected to be pregnant.

It was found by RSPB officer Martin Scott on a beach of the Atlantic coast of the island.

It is half the size of a fully grown adult and the body is being kept in cold storage for dispatch to the mainland for examination by researchers from the National Marine Aquarium.

Blue sharks are rarely found so far north but warmer summertime temperatures may encourage them to venture beyond their southerly habitats. One was found beached on Barra last October.

They usually keep to open water where they feed on mackerel, squid and octopus, prawns and lobster. They avoid coming in close to land and females can give birth to around 100 pups. The discovery coincides with a major hunt for sharks off the Western Isles.

This month the Shark Conservation Society is staging a hunt for the Great White Shark - made famous by the Jaws movie - which they believe may be lurking in deep water off the Hebrides.

The group of 14 will go sea hunting with bait to try and entice sharks closer to their chartered vessels.

They hope to spot a Great White after several possible sightings in the area in recent years including footage off Harris some five years ago.

The team they have the best chance of seeing a Great White shark preying on young seals during the peak pupping season this month.

They will be based on North Uist - where a basking shark took up residence in a sealoch at the weekend. Basking sharks have been regularly spotted around the islands this summer while it was reported a school of killer whales was off Stornoway last week.

Blue shark found on Lewis beach 5/9/11