[pvaldes]

Sequential hermaphroditism (sex changing) is in a different category. Sex changing fishes still need a partner to have babies. Not the case here.

Another posibilities could be that sperm where provided by other shark species in the same tank (The male DNA being discarded later) or that some chemical compounds where released in the closed water system, triggering the ovocite growth.

Finally, we could hypothesize that some old stored sperm could act as stimulus for oocyte division, even if the male cells were too old and damaged to be functional.

If you want to read some more about sex changing in fishes you can take a look to this article, for example:

P.Valdes, A.Garcia-Alcazar, I.Abdel, M.Arizcun, C.Suarez & E.Abellan. Aquaculture International. 2004, Vol 12(4). Seasonal Changes on Gonadosomatic Index and Maturation Stages in Common Pandora Pagellus erythrinus

(Yes, I'm the same P.Valdes)