Nurse shark killed in ghost net

| 04/06/2020 | 9 Comments
Cayman News Service
Nurse shark killed by ghost net (Photo by Kelly Walker)

(CNS): A couple paddle-boarding in South Sound on Saturday alerted the Department of Environment about a ghost net floating in the sea that had ensnared several sharks, one of which was dead.

The net, which was likely discarded or lost by commercial fishermen, had become entangled around coral in the area and took the DoE some time to remove it.

Two sharks and several jacks were finally released from the net, which was estimated to be about 20ft by 6ft, on Sunday but not before it had already claimed the life of one small nurse shark, despite efforts by the couple to save the shark, the DoE explained in a social media post.

“The net was heavily entangled in multiple coral heads and soft coral and had to be carefully cut free,” the DoE. “Although not purposely deployed, these nets continue to catch wildlife, pose danger to divers and boats, and can get entangled on coral reefs.”

Once onshore, the Department of Environmental Health picked up the net and transported it to the dump.


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Category: Marine Environment, Science & Nature

Comments (9)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Can we just go ahead and ban fishing by expats already?

  2. Anonymous says:

    Anyone have any tartar sauce?

  3. Anonymous says:

    If you’re using “careless local” as in anyone resident in Cayman Islands, then yes. If you’re suggesting Caymanian, then you don’t know that and are being carelessly presumptive. I have expat friends (on work permits) who are avid fishermen and are out fishing any chance they get. I’m sure there are many such people living in Cayman. I’m not pointing fingers at any of them but just showing that not all fishermen in these islands are “local” in the general sense of the word.

    You should not assume or generalize. That just causes unnecessary division and “us vs them” sentiments!

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  4. Anonymous says:

    No, careless cargo ships dumping retaining nets.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    I Feel bad for the poor shark, R.I.P. mr. shark!

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Official cause of death – Covid 19

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