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Posted: Tuesday 19 January, 2021 at 8:54 PM

Director Williams: Ensure young sharks do not enter the marine environment

By: Staff Reporter, SKNVibes.com

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - FISHERMEN and those hunting sharks that are popping up within St. Kitts and Nevis’ economic zone are being advised to ensure that when they catch the adults, their young must not be released back into the waters.

     

    This call comes as more social media posts are coming to light showing people are making catches of large sharks in the Federation and bringing them to shore.

     

    During an interview with SKNVibes, Director of the Department of Marine Resources, Marc Williams explained that his governmental agency is not bothered by the increasing number of catches being recorded; however, he is urging those people to ensure that the local area does not become a habitat.
     
    “...I hope that they take out the young ones from it so that they do not enter the marine environment and make the nearshore area a comfortable habitat. I have no difficulty if you are taking them out of their natural habitat,” noted the Director.
       
    All of this comes at a time when the Department of Marine Resources confirmed increased shark sightings following an incident involving a student of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, who reportedly had her leg amputated after being bitten by a shark recently.

     

    Clearing a misconception, the Director rebuffed the notion that people who are making the catch are baiting the sharks to come to the shore.

     

    “The baits are used in the open ocean and there are no dead animals that are being used,” disclosed Williams, adding that “sharks wouldn’t go after dead animals.”

     

    Addressing criticisms levelled against the Department that officials did not notify the public about increased shark sightings, Director Williams stated that people would always level criticisms based on how they view things at the time.
     
    “We were unaware of that information! However, sharks only attack people when they are provoked or if you have any item that would have caused them to mistake you for food. Criticisms will always be there and people will always say what should have been done...But it is something that we have been dealing with for many generations,” added Williams.

     

    So why is there an increase in the sighting of sharks? 

     

    The Director could not provide a direct answer to the question, but suggested that it could be due to a number of activities that have been occurring in the region in recent time.

     

    “We could only speculate because we don't have any scientific proof of what is causing the sharks to come closer. But with the recent increase in volcanic activity within the region, persons have been associating the increased sightings with that.

     

    Meanwhile, the Director is urging beach-goers and those using the sea for recreational purposes to always be mindful of their environment.

     

    He advised, “Keep looking around to see if there is any increased activity  in terms of marine life in the area.”
      
    Against that backdrop, it was highlighted that there is no area at this time that is off limits since the sharks are constantly on the move.

     

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