In 2013, fishermen off Southern California caught a colossal 11-foot-long (3.3 meters) mako shark, nicknamed “The Beast.” Weighing over 1,300 pounds (590 kilograms), it was one of the heaviest mako sharks ever documented. Recently, seals along the California coast have shown wounds consistent with attacks by large shortfin mako sharks, some exceeding 12 feet (3.6 m) in length. While shortfin makos typically reach about 10 feet (3 m) on average, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, they can grow significantly larger. In the 1950s, off the coast of Turkey, fishermen caught a mako measuring a remarkable 19 feet (5.8 m) long.
The new Shark Week show “Makozilla” follows shark biologist and wildlife presenter, , as he investigates these supersized makos. He aims to understand if a single mammoth shark exists, or if the North Pacific population has experienced a shift towards larger individuals. “Are there more absolutely massive makos out there, and how are they related?” O’Connell posed to Live Science. “Is it one particular family of makos, or is this a characteristic of the entire population along the coast of California?”
Through a series of experiments, the team gathered bite impressions on bait and measured sharks swimming alongside their boat. One shark was at least 12 feet (3.7 m) long, while an analysis of the bite marks revealed another to be at least 14 feet (4.3 m) long. A final test involved obtaining tissue samples from a 12-foot mako, comparing its DNA to “The Beast” and another large mako from years prior. The results indicated a familial link, but the degree of relationship remained unclear, prompting speculation about potential inbreeding within the population.
However, the abundance of food off the West Coast might explain the larger-than-average size of these makos. The Marine Mammal Protection Act, enacted in 1972, prohibited the killing of seals and sea lions, effectively creating a feast for sharks. “Basically, what we learned is that this characteristic of getting absolutely massive is a characteristic of the general population along the California coastline,” O’Connell stated. “To me, that’s an exciting thing. It means that there’s a lot of very big makos out there… and they have the ability to control the entire ecosystem.”
However, O’Connell highlighted the risk of current fishing regulations allowing two mako catches per day, potentially posing a devastating threat to this healthy population. He emphasized the critical role of sharks in maintaining a balanced marine environment. “I think it’s critically important for people to understand that we need these sharks in the marine environment,” he stressed. “I like to think of the ocean as a giant Jenga puzzle [tower] and the sharks represent that critical piece. If you remove that piece, that Jenga puzzle is going to collapse. And I just think people need to recognize that these animals are super, super important and we should really do everything in our power to protect them.”
“Makozilla” premieres at 10 pm ET on .
