Is the massive shark spotted on Block Island a threat, or gentle giant?

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Atlantic Shark Institute is now weighing in on a shark sighting on Block Island.

The massive 20-foot shark, thought to be a basking shark, was spotted over the holiday weekend.

Experts said while these types of sharks can get up to 40 feet long, they’re not dangerous.

“This is a big shark. It’s the second largest shark in the world. And it is in fact a relative of the white shark,” said  Dr. Stephen Kajiura, Professor of Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University.

“But it’s feeding on microscopic little plankton. And so from a distance, you might see this huge fin and be terrified, a la ‘Jaws.’ But in reality, you’ve got nothing to fear from a big basking shark like that.”

The ASI said sharks are arriving daily in Rhode Island as water temperatures warm up, and more species of sharks find them suitable.