Basking shark sighting draws large crowd at Bedford, N.S. yacht club A basking shark spotted near the Bedford Basin Yacht Club in Nova Scotia drew a crowd of onlookers Friday night as officials monitored the large filter feeder. An unusual sight drew quite the crowd Friday night in Bedford, N.S. Olivia Falkenham was on her way to work at the yacht club when she noticed lots of people pulled over, pointing and filming something. I saw a big fin come out of the water, so I pulled over and ran over to see what was happening and I took a video, she said. I went up on the balcony and was watching to see if I could see it again and then I saw it come right up under the docks at the Bedford Basin Yacht Club. It was huge. It is really cool.I have never seen anything like that, especially as close as it was and the size that it was, she said. Another onlooker described the excitement of the unexpected encounter. We just decided to take a drive down. We did not see it right away, but we were still hanging around, and the shark came up finally, he said.It was unbelievable, especially this size. Cowan said he likes to go fishing, so he is out on the water often and has never seen anything like this in his life. It is quite a scene, especially in Bedford. You never know what you are going to see down here in the harbour, so this was definitely very exciting for the wife and myself, he said.MARS said basking sharks are filter feeders and do tend to spend time at the surface. Officials monitored it Friday night to ensure it was behaving normally. A basking shark was spotted near the Bedford Basin Yacht Club in Bedford, N.S. , on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.Courtesy: Christie Wisener. The appearance of the large shark in the Bedford Basin delighted residents who gathered along the waterfront to catch a glimpse. Basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world and are known to feed on plankton near the surface, which can make them visible to people on shore. While they can look imposing because of their size, they are generally harmless to humans and pose no threat to swimmers or boaters.The sighting is unusual for the Bedford Basin, which is a busy harbour area not typically associated with large shark visits. Local officials reminded the public to keep a safe distance from any marine wildlife and to report sightings to authorities. The shark was monitored throughout Friday evening and appeared to be behaving normally as it swam near the docks. Onlookers stayed late into the night hoping to see the animal again as word spread through the community.Many captured photos and videos of the fin breaking the surface, which quickly circulated on social media. Residents said the sighting was a rare and memorable moment for the community. The incident highlights the diversity of marine life that can appear in Nova Scotia waters, even close to urban areas. Experts say basking sharks migrate through Atlantic Canadian waters during warmer months and can sometimes be spotted near shore.While the visit was brief, it left a lasting impression on those who witnessed it. Officials continue to remind the public that encountering marine wildlife should be done from a respectful distance.