Search
Tag Cloud
Archive
- February 2022 (1)
- March 2021 (1)
- February 2021 (1)
- October 2020 (1)
- August 2020 (2)
- July 2020 (1)
- June 2020 (5)
- May 2020 (2)
- April 2020 (1)
- March 2020 (2)
- February 2020 (1)
- January 2020 (1)
- December 2019 (1)
- November 2019 (2)
- October 2019 (1)
- September 2019 (1)
- August 2019 (3)
- July 2019 (1)
- May 2019 (1)
- April 2019 (1)
- March 2019 (1)
- February 2019 (4)
- January 2019 (1)
- December 2018 (3)
- November 2018 (2)
- October 2018 (2)
- September 2018 (3)
- August 2018 (1)
- July 2018 (2)
- June 2018 (1)
- May 2018 (1)
- April 2018 (1)
- March 2018 (1)
- February 2018 (1)
- January 2018 (1)
- December 2017 (1)
- September 2017 (1)
- August 2017 (2)
- November 2016 (4)
- July 2016 (1)
- June 2016 (1)
- May 2016 (3)
- April 2016 (1)
- June 2015 (1)
- May 2015 (4)
- April 2015 (3)
- March 2015 (3)
- February 2015 (4)
- January 2015 (2)
- December 2014 (1)
- November 2014 (1)
- July 2014 (1)
- June 2014 (1)
- May 2014 (3)
- April 2014 (4)
- March 2014 (1)
- February 2014 (1)
- December 2013 (1)
- September 2013 (1)
- August 2013 (1)
- July 2013 (3)
- March 2013 (1)
- February 2013 (2)
- January 2013 (1)
- December 2012 (2)
- November 2012 (3)
- October 2012 (4)
- September 2012 (6)
- August 2012 (5)
- July 2012 (1)
- May 2012 (2)
- April 2012 (2)
- March 2012 (5)
- February 2012 (4)
- January 2012 (5)
- December 2011 (2)
- October 2011 (3)
- September 2011 (2)
- August 2011 (3)
- July 2011 (3)
- May 2011 (2)
- April 2011 (2)
- March 2011 (5)
- January 2011 (4)
- August 2010 (4)
- June 2010 (6)
- May 2010 (1)
- April 2010 (1)
- March 2010 (3)
- February 2010 (4)
- January 2010 (3)
- December 2009 (4)
- April 2009 (6)
- February 2009 (4)
- December 2008 (6)
- November 2008 (3)
- September 2008 (3)
- July 2008 (4)
- June 2008 (7)
- May 2008 (1)
Subscribe
379 Illegally Caught Sharks Buried at Sea
Date: July 24, 2011

On July 18th, the B/P MARY I, and 6 fibras (small open fishing boats) found with it, were captured by the Galapagos National Park’s Sea Ranger 2, with the support of the Navy. The boats were located southeast of Genovesa Island, 20 miles within the boundaries of the Galapagos Marine Reserve at the time of their detention. The boats did not arrive in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristóbal Island on the afternoon of July 19th because of poor sea conditions. At 5:30 pm, following the required legal proceedings of naval authorities, police, and local prosecutors, the holds of the Mary I were inspected.
The inspection was completed at noon on July 20th and initially revealed a total of 357 sharks, 11 mahi-mahi, 9 albacore, and 1 swordfish. The shark species included 286 fox sharks (Alopias superciliosus), 22 blue sharks (Prionace glauca), 40 Galapagos sharks (Carcharinus galapaguensis) 6 hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini), 2 tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvieri), and 1 mako shark (Isurus oxirrinchus).
As required by Ecuadorian law, all of the illegally-caught sharks were returned to the sea today. Three of the 30 arrested fisherman – the captain and two crew members – joined the scientists to witness the burial to ensure transparency in the disposal of their catch. Before returning them to the sea, scientists measured and sexed each shark and took samples for genetic and demographic analysis. They discovered during this process that there were a total of 379 sharks slaughtered, not 357 as originally reported. The dorsal fins had been almost completely severed, so it is believed that they were captured for the in-demand Asian delicacy of shark fin soup.
The arrested fishermen are currently in jail awaiting a hearing where they will face criminal charges. It is illegal to capture, sell and transfer sharks of any kind in the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR). In addition, the Special Law for Galapagos, which established the GMR, prohibits industrial fishing activities, including the use of longlines.
Comments