Monterey's Borrowed Great White Shark

A great white shark has come to visit California's Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The young shark is presently 4 feet, 4 inches long and weighs 62 pounds. It could grow to about 21 feet and weigh more than a ton.

The last time the aquarium exhibited a great white was twenty years ago. In 1984, the young fish died after 10 days in captivity. However, since then, scientists believe they have learned painful lessons.

The challenge: How to make this unusual visitor a permanent houseguest.

No where else in the world is a great white on display.

Unfortunately, no where has any facility been able to keep one on exhibit for more than 16 days.

Hours after the shark arrived from Malibu, the young shark lunched on salmon fillets — the first time a great white has accepted food in an aquarium, according to aquarium workers.

Three weeks ago, commercial halibut fishermen inadvertently snagged the young female fish in their nets off the coast of Huntington Beach.

Until Tuesday, it had been kept in a 4 million-gallon pen off the Southern California coast. It took an unmarked 3,000 gallon shark tank on wheels to transport it north by truck.

The shark, on public display as of today, resides in a 1 million gallon Outer Bay tank. The tank also contains seventy-five other large fish and turtles.

The tank is a little larger than one Olympic-size swimming pool.

Of the almost 40 great white sharks kept at aquariums over the years, most were unintentionally caught in commercial fishing gear and brought directly to aquariums. They either died or were freed when they wouldn't eat.

Nobody knows why they don't thrive in captivity, although many marine biologists speculate that the predators can't handle the stress of being captured and contained.

This time, they tried to lower the animal's stress level by allowing it to swim in a larger area for a few weeks before bringing it to the aquarium.

If all goes well, the shark will become part of a three year shark research project.

"This is the only shark species in California responsible for attacking human beings,'' said John McCosker, a senior scientist at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco and a leading expert on great whites.

However, McCosker added, "What I have discovered in my career is that the more people understand about white sharks, the more they . . . demystify them, the more people's children demand that we protect these animals -- even though they are dangerous to deal with."

While the great white is one of the most frightening creatures on earth it is also one of the most misperceived creature.

Hopefully, it will survive and serve as a good omen for the San Jose Sharks.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful and rare moments of borrowed living!

~ Jennifer King

For hours of operation and other Monterey Bay Aquarium exhibits, please go to: MBayAq.org