Fisherman reels in white shark in Nantucket, then snags the hook from its toothy mouth

A Nantucket angler faced a rare encounter when a nearly nine-foot white shark swam near shore on June 7. Elliot Sudal, a veteran captain and longtime shark researcher, captured the moment as he freed the hook and released the animal. The release, filmed from the surf, took about 15 seconds, and the shark swam away unhurt, according to the diver's account. Sudal has tagged and released hundreds of sharks over years, though this was his first in more than a decade of work. The event underscores ongoing protections for white sharks and the challenges of safe handling near habitats.

White sharks are protected and not listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, yet remain subject to special federal protections. NOAA has previously scrutinized Sudal's handling, sending a 2017 inquiry over a small sawfish, and a 2018 advisory outlining safety protocols. Scientists noting rising white shark sightings off New England tie the trend to greater seal availability, a key prey driver. Experts say such encounters are rare, with only dozens of fatal bites on record, highlighting the need for cautious, informed release practices. White sharks live in Atlantic coastal waters and are not yet considered endangered globally by the IUCN.