On 30th December 2020, a series of videos were circulated, depicting the capture and inhumane handling of an adult shark along the Tarreau Coastline.
The species captured was identified as the Shortfin Mako Shark known to inhabit tropical seas. Dominica does not have an active shark fishery (as a targeted fish species). However, from time to time various species of sharks are landed as mainly bycatch (fish caught in the process of fishing for other species).
The Shortfin Mako Shark is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a species which is near threatened, meaning that the population is on the decline.
The FAO Code for Responsible Fisheries Article 7.2.2. (g) states that pollution, waste, discards, catch by lost or abandoned gear, catch of non-target species, both fish and non- fish species, and impacts on associated or dependent species are minimized, through measures including, to the extent practicable, the development and use of selective, environmentally safe and cost-effective fishing gear and techniques. Therefore, if any sharks are caught they are to be consumed, thus minimizing waste and discards.
It must be clearly expressed that the Fisheries Division does not condone the inhumane capture or harvest of any fish species and that the method by which the shark was caught is not a recognized humane fishing method and does not in any way portray the manner in which sharks or any other fish species are handled by bonafide fishers in Dominica.
Furthermore, to ensure this is not the norm, the Fisheries Division provides up to date training and sensitization sessions for fisher folk through its Basic Fisherman’s Training Course on topics such as but not limited to fisheries, fish conservation, fish management, proper harvest and post-harvest handling techniques.
For more information and clarification please contact the Fisheries Division, Ministry of Blue and Green Economy, Agriculture and National Food Security, Government Headquarters, Kennedy Avenue, Roseau. Telephone numbers 266-3271; 266-5291.
There is a simple explanation for the sharks being prevalent in unusual areas. As you probably noticed from last hurricane season the storms were not in the usual tracts and developed near Yucatan and in the gulf of Mexico…the weather was going through the la nina effect and while it recovers from the last el nine. This means that currents are not in their usual place. Fish follow the currents and sharks follow fish.
A large Mako like that is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Shark attacks on humans are very rare and this seems to have got to a good size by eating it’s natural food.
We do not catch these large beautiful animals regularly in D/ca so are not really threatening the species.
If we do catch one -eat and enjoy
So all commentators justifying the killing of this shark, because it could have been a potential threat: Please consider cutting down all palm trees on Dominica asap, as every year way more people die from falling coconuts than from shark attacks.
In addition, we need to know if it is safe to eat the meat from these beached sharks. What if they are sick? Our fishers need more training.
I don’t know who all reading other news links, but here I’m reading about a same shark cause a Ross student in St.kitts to lost her legs yesterday 9th January, 2021 while enjoying the sea. Hey and that’s what Dominica want to protect an old shark. Well well.
Comments like yours are the reason why I believe we need mandatory IQ tests before gaining access to the internet
Let’s get down to business. A shark is an apex predator. now, although i do not condone the killing of threatened or near threatened species (we need to preserve these animals for future generations to see), however, the first instinct that comes to anyone after seeing a shark is either to run or swim away from it (depending on where you are physically). Now, if a shark appears near the shoreline, near humans, where stones/rocks are plentiful, one of the most basic instincts of any human would be to stone it. not because that’s a fishing technique, but to defend and to preserve ones life. now, unless Dominican fisher folk have been briefed on how to properly catch a shark, then that method of killing the animal shouldn’t be considered inhumane. and in regards to the type of shark it was, no one first pulls it up, looks at it then chooses whether or not they should capture it. first instinct again is to strike out of fear. so that too can be understood.
Dominicans a real set of ignorant people so allu see an animal allu not accustomed of being in an area no questions why the animal there what they should do, what research could be done to understand why the animal close to shore allu decide on allu own to kill the animal , is why it doe good to let you all make decisions for allu self. IGNORANT to much freedom allu have.
Two things to note:
1. Its clear that the people who killed the shark werent fishermen at sea fishing, but rather ordinary concerned citizens who killed a life threating animal therefore dont expect them to have proper weapons.
2. There isnt anything in the article making mention of the dangers of such an animal (as if to say its a harmless house cat).
for the sake of the shark lovers can only admin ask the Fishries Division what happens whenever sharks come in contact with swimmers?
ADMIN: Here is a resource to some statistics on shark interactions with humans: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/yearly-worldwide-summary/
If a shark bite u in the sea, it wrong den?
I can understand if it come on land n bite u.
Thank for the information but I am more concerned about the young fish like the tuna dohwad that is being fished I think s standard has to be set for the fishing of those little ones which will cause the decline of those fish in the future.
what nonsense is that about inhumane ..stupes ..once the sharm was killed to be used purposefully..i see no problem with that ..ralking about inhumane stupes ..is the shark a human being ?
Three persons arrested in India for inhumane killing of a dolphin.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/three-people-arrested-in-india-for-killing-of-endangered-gangetic-dolphin/ar-BB1cBsIq
Humane Dominica,I agree with you 100%.If if COONU like Rastarmarn was in the USA or Canada the would understand.Lack of reading cause this level of ignorance.The majority of sharks do not people.
Sadly it does not take much for the thin veneer of civilised humanity to vanish, when we have amongst us a a tolerance for cruel, badly raised and misinformed children masquerading as fully grown adults.
In my village, the snakes did their job for hundreds of years to maintain the vermin to low and acceptable levels. But a culture of religiously inspired stupidity made the people turn on the snakes. Now you can’t find a snake for hell or high water. But king rat is rampant everywhere!
Education will set us free!
But wait nuh!!!
Thank allyou for the little information there but the biggest question is why was this Adult and Vicious Predator so close to shore???
Knowing that it’s the nature of these Beasts is to Bite first to investigate their prey could allyou go and find out what was this fish doing so close to shore!!!
Educate people Nuh!!!
https://oceana.org/marine-life/sharks-rays/shortfin-mako-shark
As those videos depicted the Beast was seen on the shore coastline, and seeing that it’s customary for Dominicans to go bathing in the Sea at least at areas of shoreline where this Beast was first seen (according to the video) allyou can do better than that wi and tell people how to safeguard and protect themselves before allyou to come talk about humane treatment of this Beast,,,
So what if it was let go and then allyou hear about individual(s) diving by Rodney’s Rock was fatally bitten by an adult Shark,,,
Is dunce people like you who have the world this way. A shark is an oceanic animal. It BELONGS in the sea. So if u go in and it bites you, you still have no right to kill it.
The issue at this juncture is not the fact that people went out there and hunted the shark and inhumanly captured and took its fins and left it out there to rot like those commercial Japanese do,,,
The Shark made it to the shore for whatever reason and people saw it as a source of Food!!!
In oder to eat that Beast they had to kill it and the way it was killed was the best available means the inhabitants there had at the time,,,
Allyou don’t need to come dere chastising people for feeding themselves!!!
That was the gist of the argument but I guess you must be worst than Dunce to identify that someone else is Dunce as you must know what to look for to classify as yourself, as you are already in the Dunce category looking for friends,,,
This is one of the stupidest comments I’ve ever read. Killing a shark for swimming in the sea is like killing a human for walking on land…that’s exactly what they’re supposed to do. It’s their natural habitat. The shark didn’t do anything wrong but exist. It’s the people that captured the shark who are at fault. They captured & killed that shark for their own personal gain, ended that innocent sharks life just so they can make a profit or put something on their plate. The issue isn’t even really about what they’re going to do with the shark, the issue is that it’s 2021 yet so many Dominicans act like barbarians. This is exactly why the country is a mess. Have you ever heard people say “Dominica isn’t a real country” before? Well this video is a great example why. So many people don’t know how to function in life/society properly. It’s embarrassing. Why would people want to visit a country that doesn’t know how to act right? That’s why they visit the other islands instead of ours
Usually these beast have to attack a tourist for officials to do a greater study and realize what is causing them to come this close to shore through out the caribbean…..turtles their main meal can easily cause it.
I wonder what statement they would have made if someones arm or leg was amputated by the shark.
Aye Ministry of Blue and Green Economy Agriculture & National Food Security, did one of these international activist NGO’s push you all to issue a press release about a SHAARKKKKK of all things?
Inhumane way of capturing fish species?
But what madness I reading dere tonight boy.
So hooking a fish by its mouth and wrestling it to submission, is suppose to be humane? Like seriously?
Don’t matter how the shark was killed, to me the most important thing is that, the shark was killed. If it had to eat somebody what would happen. If per say, a diver was passing and that shark had to swallow, injured to that person what would happen. I think talking about how the shark was killed make no sense to me. This thing come so close to shore, if a man was on the rock cutting a s…, that shark would have take him away by surprise. You all talking like, even ready to prosecute those who kill the dangerous creature, come on.
So what’s your point, kill all sharks, kill all lions, kill all tigers? Like seriously? Sharks are found in every sea/ocean, just cause we don’t often see them, dont mean they arent there.
Ignorant nonsensical talk
Glad the authorities have finally commented on this. It’s no longer possible to ignore the damaging effect of inhumane treatment of any species on the Nature Island (turtles, boas, roaming dogs in the streets, etc., ). The Basic Fisherman’s Training Course is a great initiative and the govt should also facilitate humane education programs like what the Humane Society of Dominica has been doing.
Amen to that, animals have as much right to live as we destructive human beings. Yes and I like tete chief too, at least they keep away the rats and are not poisenous, know what I mean. Bunch of ignoramuses we have in Dominica, calling itself nature island, my foot!
No word on arrest or fine, nonsense. Not ready yet. That was so distasteful and now this….