A giant basking shark swam into a Rhode Island pond on Memorial Day, startling tourists and sparking climate chatter during the 50th anniversary of “Jaws.”
At a Glance
- A 20-foot basking shark entered Block Island’s Great Salt Pond, alarming Memorial Day diners.
- Viral footage showed the shark trailing a tiny boat, creating a real-life “Jaws” moment.
- Despite their size, basking sharks are harmless plankton-eaters.
- Experts say rising ocean temperatures are drawing more sharks to the area.
- The shark likely entered by mistake and exited the pond about a day later.
Jaws-Style Stunner in a Serene Pond
Memorial Day took a turn for the surreal when diners at Dead Eye Dick’s on Block Island, Rhode Island, spotted a massive basking shark gliding through the Great Salt Pond. Witnesses described the scene as something out of a horror movie—especially as the 20-foot giant followed a tiny recreational boat at an unsettlingly close distance.
One diner, Jen Seebeck, captured the encounter on video, and the footage quickly exploded online. The Atlantic Shark Institute confirmed the sighting, calling it a stunning and rare kickoff to the summer. “Clearly a very large shark and reminiscent of a scene from Jaws on this 50th anniversary of the film,” the group told the Daily Mail.
No Teeth, Just Terror
Fortunately, the shark in question wasn’t a man-eater—it was a basking shark, the world’s second-largest fish and a harmless filter-feeder. These ocean giants consume zooplankton, not swimmers. Still, that’s cold comfort for anyone who might’ve been considering a dip in the pond.
“They are harmless filter-feeders but that wouldn’t matter much if you were in the water when one came cruising by!” said Atlantic Shark Institute director Jon Dodd in comments to the Daily Mail.
The shark appeared to have entered the pond by accident—likely through a connecting channel—and eventually found its way out the next day.
Watch a report: 20-Foot Shark Startles Block Island Tourists.
From Climate to Tourism: A Shark Tale
While most onlookers chalked up the sighting to an unusual fluke, scientists linked it to a growing pattern. “Sharks are arriving in Rhode Island daily as water temperatures continue to rise,” the Shark Institute noted, attributing the visit to warming waters that are making northern coasts more hospitable to shark species once rarely seen in the region.
The viral footage, covered by outlets like the New York Post and People Magazine, added a wild twist to Block Island’s new title as one of USA Today’s top 10 summer destinations. But as local officials juggle tourist curiosity with public concern, one thing’s clear: sharks, climate, and viral moments are now part of the summer equation.
Even though the shark posed no real threat, it left behind an unforgettable message: nature’s surprises don’t always come with warning signs. Whether it’s a wrong turn or a warming trend, this unexpected visitor made waves—and memories—on Block Island.
