Rare porbeagle shark spotted off Wales

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FISHGUARD, Wales, July 19 (UPI) -- An endangered shark has been spotted off the western coast of Wales, a marine life expert says.

The 8-foot-long porbeagle shark was seen swimming just off the beach in Fishguard for about an hour, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

The British newspaper reported that the shark appeared to be injured. A witness said the shark appeared to have fresh abrasions around its snout and tailstock.

Cliff Benson of the Sea Trust, who saw the shark, said he thought it may have been attacked by a school of bottlenose dolphins in the area.

"The first thing I said was 'Wow, that isn't basking shark,'" he said. "To be that close to a wild free shark was amazing.

"The bottles may have objected to the shark trying to share the fish and reacted violently."

The European Union has proposed listing porbeagle shark under the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.