Aussies Rethink ‘Harmless’ Fishing After 3.5-Metre Shark Released
A marine biologist raises concerns over the impact of fishing practices on sharks
Lakes Entrance, Australia, Tiger Shark, Fishing, Marine Biology
Lakes Entrance: Two Aussie fishermen recently caught a massive 3.5-metre tiger shark. They had a wild 90-minute battle before snapping some photos and releasing it back into the ocean.
But not everyone is celebrating. A marine biologist, Lawrence Chlebeck, pointed out that the shark might have been hurt during the catch. He mentioned that while tiger sharks are tough, pulling them out of the water can cause serious internal injuries.
Chlebeck explained that even though these sharks usually survive being caught, keeping them out of the water for too long can be dangerous. It’s like when whales and dolphins get beached; it can really mess with their organs.
What worries him most is when fishermen take their time posing for pictures. He believes it’s crucial to get sharks back in the water quickly. Sitting on them for selfies? Not a good idea, he says. It just adds more pressure on their bodies.
He compared this to dolphin shows where animals are pulled out of the water for photos. It’s not just harmless fun; it can be really stressful for the animals.
The catch happened during the busy holiday season, and the fishermen didn’t even mean to catch a tiger shark. They were hoping for a bronze whaler instead. One of them said they swam the shark out to chest height, and once it was ready, it swam off happily.
Image Credits and Reference: https://au.news.yahoo.com/aussies-urged-rethink-harmless-fishing-practice-after-35-metre-shark-safely-released-001842660.html