Overview
- A paper published in June 2026 confirms two independent in‑situ videos of the goblin shark from archived 2019 ROV footage near Jarvis Island and a 2024 baited‑camera recording on the Tonga Trench slope.
- The 2024 baited bottom‑lander filmed the shark at about 1,997 metres, extending the species’ known depth by nearly 700 metres and setting a new depth record for its shark order.
- The Jarvis Island image came from a public livestream archive of the ROV Hercules and was identified later by lead author Aaron Judah, showing the scientific value of searching archived video.
- Researchers stress how rare the encounters remain: more than 50 days of deep‑sea footage produced only a roughly 20‑second Tonga sighting, leaving major questions about abundance and behaviour.
- Authors recommend updating regional species lists and seabed management plans to reflect the expanded range, and they say diversified survey platforms and archive reuse will be key to finding more records.