The Dorsal Fin

In some odd shark-related news, CNN and WMUR are reporting that the carcass of a 6-8′ blue shark (Prionace glauca) was found in the woods in Milton, New Hampshire. The dead shark was found discarded approximately 50 miles from the coast. According to WMUR.com, authorities who were called to the scene decided to leave the carcass where it lay and “let nature takes its course.”

According to a WPTV.com report a 9′ (2.75 m) female scalloped hammerhead was caught by fisherman off-shore and then left dead on the docks of the Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach, Florida. The abandoned catch has stirred up some controversy. A WPBF.com report on the event quotes Jim Abernathy as saying that the catch was illegal based on Florida law. According to Abernathy, any fish that is not intended to be eaten must be immediately released under the state law.

Despite being listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Redlist, the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is not a protected species in Florida waters.

UK’s The Sun has managed to run a shark-related news story without going over the top with the sensationalism. The article, Shark Angel, briefly describes the efforts of Julie Andersen of Shark Angels. Unfortunately, it seems that somebody dropped the ball on writing the captions for the photos that were included in the story.

This photo (click the link, as I don’t have the rights to display it here) is accompanied by the caption, “Saved … Shark Angel frees creature from net.” Sadly, the “creature” in the photo, a sand tiger shark, appears well past the point of saving and looks to be quite dead. In fact, what appears to be the same shark can be seen in the Shark Angels video below.

Photo caption blunders aside, I have to give credit to The Sun for taking a step in the right direction, when it comes to steering away from the fear angle and featuring a story about conservation.

CBS is reporting that police were called to a street in downtown Miami on July 21, 2009 due to the body pf a 6′ (1.8m) nurse shark being deposited on the road. Reports indicate that two men had tried to sell the shark to multiple fish markets, asking $10 for the animal. The men were seen carrying the shark around and even rode the city’s Metromover train carrying the body of the deceased shark. According to CBS, “authorities say the incident could lead to misdemeanor charges of improper killing and disposal of an animal, and selling a shark without a license.” The Miami Herald is reporting that the body of the shark was returned to the ocean, according to wildlife officials.

A nurse shark in its natural environment

Personally, I hope the perpetrators are prosecuted for this act of needless stupidity.