Tiger sharks suffer from fish hooks en masse

Tiger sharks suffer from fish hooks en masse
Tiger sharks suffer from fish hooks en masse
Anonim

Observations of tiger sharks off the coast of Tahiti have shown that marine predators are highly susceptible to injury from fishing gear intended for other fish.

Study author Karl Meyer, a marine biologist at the University of Hawaii, and his colleagues studied 55 tiger sharks (Latin Galeocerdo cuvier) living off the northwest coast of Tahiti between 2011 and 2019. Eight years of observations showed that 38% of tiger sharks had fish hook scars or swam with hooks stuck in their bodies, which could be anywhere from one to seven.

As the scientists explained, sharks fall into longline traps set for other fish (tuna, swordfish). Some sharks manage to free themselves by biting the line, others are helped by anglers. But hooks often get stuck in their mouths or even inside their bodies, causing infections, damaging internal organs, and interfering with normal nutrition, leading to death.

According to the study, the biggest harm to sharks comes from stainless steel hooks, which can remain in their bodies for many years or until the end of their lives. According to scientists, the use of degradable hooks can reduce the negative impact on non-target species.

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