The Dorsal Fin

According to Alabama’s Press-Register three out of the seven sharks that were brought into the scales at the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo were disqualified, because they were a federally protected species. The three disqualified shark were sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus), which are federally protected due to having been over-fished, according to University of South Alabama fisheries scientist Dr. Marcus Dryman.

Sandbar sharks are known for their relatively tall dorsal fins. Dryman also noted that the species is easily distinguished by a distinct dorsal ridge that runs between the first and second dorsal fins.

A new law which effectively makes Bahamas waters a shark sanctuary went into effect yesterday (July 6). The law which prohibits commercial shark fishing applies to an estimated 243,000 square miles, according to the WPTV report. Shark-related eco-tourism has brought in over $80 million to the Bahamian government.

It’s worth pointing out that at the end of this feature, the reporter mentions Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering adding more protected species “like the great white.” The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is already protected in Florida waters according to the FWC and NOAA.

Sand tiger sharks are among the protected species that regulations prohibit removing from Delware waters.

According to a Delmarvanow.com changes to Delaware’s shark fishing regulations are set to go into effect on June 11, 2011 in attempt to discourage the targeting of protected species. The new regulations state:

It shall be unlawful for any hook and line fisherman to remove from the water sandbar shark, or any other species of shark when prohibited from harvest under §3541.

Delmarvanow.com quoted fisheries administrator for Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Fish and Wildlife Division, Craig Shirey, as saying, “if you have to get out there in the water with the shark to let it go, then maybe it will discourage people from fishing for them.” DNREC fisheries scientist, Scott Newin, said that the current regulations need to be defined more clearly and also noted that the public needed to be better educated about how to properly handle hooked sharks to minimize injuries to the animals.

Violations of the new shark fishing regulations would carry fines of $25-$100. For more information check out Delaware’s 3541 Atlantic Sharks regulations.

The Washington Post is reporting that Panamanian customs officials have discovered nearly a half-ton (421 kg) of shark fins. The article goes on to say that the fins were cut illegally from “protected hammerhead sharks.”

The fins were discovered at Panama’s international airport and were bound for New York City having originated in Ecuador. The shark fins were being shipped in a container labeled “dried fish.”

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to dive with some sand tiger sharks off the North Carolina coast. Unfortunately, the juvenile sand tiger in the video above had apparently been hooked on what appears to be a fisherman’s bottom rig. The young shark was swimming around inside the hull of the USS Indra. The shark appeared to have a treble hook in its lower jaw with a lead sinker dangling from it.

The sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) is a protected species in U.S. waters. However, due to the unpredictable nature of fishing, sand tigers can be accidentally hooked by fisherman. It is unclear whether this particular shark was hooked accidentally and broke the line, or the line was simply cut.

A diver had told us he attempted to remove the hook from the shark on a previous dive. He said he had “wrestled” with the shark for quite some time during the attempt, but his efforts proved unsuccessful.