Monster three-tonne shark caught off Vic

A three-tonne basking shark has been caught by a trawler off the coast of Victoria.

The gentle giant, which is a slow-moving plankton feeder, has been donated by fishermen to Museum Victoria for scientific research.

The shark was accidentally caught by a fishing trawler in western Bass Strait and Museum Victoria scientists travelled to Portland to measure and take samples from the body.

The head and fins have been taken to build a full-scale exhibition model.

It is the second biggest shark species in the world, after the whale shark, but very little is known about the species, the museum says.

The shark can grow up to 12 metres in length and is listed as a vulnerable species due to the shark fin trade.

Museum Victoria has only encountered three of the sharks in more than 160 years of documenting Victoria's wildlife.