Angel shark tests water in his new Galway aquarium

A 20-yeasr-old angel shark caught by a Connemara fisherman has been put on display at the Galway Atlantaquaria.

Aquarium manager Mr Neil Campbell said the shark, which weighs about 45lbs, was the only one in captivity in Ireland.

"It's wonderful to have such a beautiful creature here. He towers above the fish around him."

The shark has been placed in the aquarium's biggest tank, where it is "settling in well", Mr Campbell said.

"He is just sitting at the bottom, getting his bearings. He hasn't started eating yet, which isn't unusual when you introduce a fish from the wild. They can take a week or so before having any food.

"He'll feed off the bottom. That's the way an angel shark feeds. He'll lie in wait in the gravel until a crab or flat fish passes by him."

As a precaution the shark has been placed in a covered tank in the aquarium, out of the reach of the public but still within view.

It was caught almost two weeks ago by Mr Marcus Mulkerrin, from Carna, who had been fishing in a currach. Mr Campbell said angel sharks were more commonly found off the south coast of Ireland.