Two tiger sharks caught and brought ashore

While the photo is impressive, the video showing a tiger shark writhing on the pier next to the Grand-Cul-de-Sac lagoon pontoon is even more so. The image was taken on Sunday, February 1. In fact, two tiger sharks were caught on the same day by professional fishermen from Saint Barthélemy. The one that appears in the image appears to measure nearly 2.50 meters, which is close to adult size. A tiger shark measures between three and four meters on average. Contacted by the Journal de Saint-Barth, the Territorial Environment Agency (ATE) emphasizes that this species of shark is not protected. Fishing for it is authorized between September and April. "These sharks were caught legally, using longlines," says the ATE. The catches took place outside the reserve, offshore, in authorized areas. As a reminder, fishing for rays and sharks is prohibited in nature reserves." Tiger shark fishing is not common, according to the ATE. It is mostly done at the request of customers. It is the method that the Agency regrets.
When a catch is too large to be transported on board the boat, fishermen tie it to the side of the boat to bring it ashore. This is a common technique in such cases. "However," the ATE points out, "the shark should have been killed before the crossing to avoid unnecessary suffering." Consequently, the Agency states that a reminder has been sent "to the persons concerned."
It should also be noted that this unusual fishing incident occurred a few days before the arrival on the island of biologist and director of the "One Shark" project, Hadrien Bidenbach. The scientist is conducting a study on tiger sharks in the waters of Saint Martin, Anguilla, and Saint Barth, where he will be present on February 11.