Bermuda's inshore waters.

Officials at the Aquarium are currently fishing for what they believe could be a nurse shark in Harrington Sound.

Curator Jack Ward said staff had set fishing lines to try and catch the docile fish alive, which members of the public had reported seeing in the waters.

If caught, they hope to add the fish to their exhibits.

Mr. Ward said they were reacting to the sightings and would do their best to establish whether or not there was a shark.

He said nurse sharks were bottom feeders and he had never seen one in Bermuda in over 40 years.

They are usually found off the Caribbean and around the coast of South America.

Toothless, and up to eight-foot in length, they feed on lobster and crabs, and do not present a danger to the public -- spending most of their time on the seabed and in caves.

"They are extremely rare. I have never seen one in Harrington Sound and have lived there for over 40 years. But the member of the public did seem to know what she was talking about,'' he said.

"We would love to catch it for our exhibition. We have been looking for one for quite some time now.'' Aquarium staff have set fishing lines and are visiting them regularly to try and catch the fish.