A whale shark is spotted in the northern harbor of Sakata. A man from Sagae City captures a video.

Translated from the original article at: http://yamagata-np.jp/news/201208/10/kj_2012081000219.php

10:20PM, August 10, 2012

The whale shark, captured on video by a man from Sagae City

One report after another has been coming in of the whale shark in Sakata Bay. A self-employed business owner (male, age 46) of Sagae City took pictures and video after discovering the shark swimming near the docks of Sakata Bay. According to the Prefectural Experimental Fishery Station (Tsuruoka City): "So far, we haven't heard any reports of sightings within Shounai Bay."

[Click here for a video]

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is part of the Rhincodontidae family of fish. It’s special trait is the pattern of dots on its body. In addition, it can reach a length of over 13 meters, making it the largest fish in the world. Feeding on plankton, it is not a "man eating shark". According to the fishery station, it resides within tropical and sub-tropical waters, although it doesn't specifically enter Japanese waters. [During the summer, it's will swim the Tsushima Strait, but we don't hear of it entering Japanese waters. This is quite rare," they explained.

On August 6^th, after 5:00AM, the man witness the young whale shark (about 4-5 meters long) while fishing on the docks. Having a cell-phone camera, he took video as the shark spent 15 minutes swimming near the docks, comfortably swaying its tail from left to right before leaving. "No wonder I wasn't able to get much fishing done. But, that was an amazing experience." said the man.

Besides Sakata Harbor, on the evening of the 4th, the whale shark was seen swimming around a recreational fishing boat. During the day of August 5th, it was also said to be spotted 10 kilometers away from a pleasure boat . "We think both reports are about the same shark." said the fishery station. Hearing the eyewitness reports, spectators from Sakata City and Yuza-Machi gathered on the beach, yelling out together as their numbers increased. The fishery station added: Whale sharks are docile and pose no threat to humans, although one could be injured if hit by their tail fin. If someone spots a whale shark, we hope they observe it without fear."

Original text:

酒田北港沖でジンベエザメ　寒河江の男性が写真と動画撮影

 2012年08月10日　22:20

寒河江市内の男性が撮影したジンベエザメ

酒田沖でジンベエザメの目撃が相次いでいる。寒河江市内の自営業男性（46）は酒田北港の離岸堤近くを泳ぐジンベエザメを発見し、写真と動画を撮影した。県水産試験場（鶴岡市）は「庄内沖で見つかったという話は今まで聞いたことがない」としている。

 [ 動画はコチラ]

ジンベエザメはジンベエザメ科の魚で、体に斑点模様があるのが特徴。体長13メートル以上に及ぶものもおり、世界最大の魚類とされる。餌はプランクトンで、“人食いサメ”ではない。同試験場によると、太平洋などの熱帯、亜熱帯の海域に生息し、日本海にわざわざ回遊することはないものの、「夏なので対馬暖流に乗ってきた可能性がある。日本海にいないというわけではないが、とても珍しい」と説明する。

 寒河江市内の男性は6日午前5時すぎ、離岸堤で釣り中、体長4～5メートルの若いジンベエザメを目撃。携帯電話のカメラ機能で撮影した。男性の足元近くを15分間ほど右や左にゆったり泳ぎ、去っていったという。「道理で魚が全く釣れなかったわけだが、貴重な経験ができた」と男性。

酒田沖では他にも、4日夜に遊漁船が船の回りを泳ぐ様子を目撃、5日の日中にもプレジャーボートが約10キロ沖で姿を確認したという。同試験場は「同一の個体と思われる」。目撃情報を受け、酒田市や遊佐町は海水浴場の監視員らに監視強化を呼び掛けている。同試験場は「ジンベエザメはおとなしく人に危害を与えないが、尾ひれがぶつかるとけがをするので、もし見つけても驚かさずに見守ってほしい」としている。