The shark that frequented the Miracle beach in Tarragona has finally been captured and transferred to the Aquàrium in Barcelona, where a specimen of the same species is found. Three Aquàrium technicians, supported by a Red Cross device, trapped it between two nets and immobilized it, taking advantage of the animal’s regularity in its behavior patterns, which every afternoon between 6 and 7 p.m. approached the Bank. Two of his captors suffered minor injuries.
Several sharks were sighted, for the first time, on the beach of l’Arrabassada in Cambrils, last month. The technicians have corroborated the presence of a second shark, of about 2 meters, and it is speculated that there may be a third. Despite this, the captured specimen, a female between 1.50 and 1.60 meters, is the only one that has approached the shore.
Initially, the animal was identified as a basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), probably because this species, together with porbeagle and blue shark, is common in the Mediterranean. Nonetheless, Biologists from the Center for the Recovery of Maritime Animals (CRAM) of the Generalitat de Catalunya, later and unequivocally established the species to which the shark belongs, Carchainus Plumbeus, known as the milbert shark or gray shark.
Gray sharks, unlike basking sharks, tend to be aggressive and if they feel threatened they can tear off small pieces of meat with their pointed, triangular teeth. Their diet is based on small fish, mollusks and crustaceans, so that humans are not one of their objectives. Even so, and despite the fact that its size did not make the animal dangerous, there could be some doubts about the supposed harmlessness of the animal.
The shark demonstrated its zero fear of humans by swimming among the bathers in the early days. Fortunately, Tarragona City Council, took the precaution of temporarily prohibiting access to the stretch of Miracle beach that the animal considered his. However, the presence of the shark attracted large numbers of onlookers, and on four occasions unconscious people were fined 400 euros who ignored the recommendations by getting into the water.
Yesterday, in Tarragona, surveillance of the Miracle beach was kept until the night in case more sharks appeared. This morning it was considered that the bathroom could be reopened throughout the area. However, an investigation has been initiated to analyze the temperature and salinity of the water, as well as other underwater and surface elements in order to determine the causes why the shark came so close to the coast.
After the capture, the female gray shark is being tested to verify that it is healthy and it will even be checked if it is waiting for offspring. After studying the evolution of the animal in its captivity and finding answers to some questions, the intention is to take the animal to the high seas and release it.
The environmental organization Mediterrania-CIE and its Marine Surveillance group, has taken advantage of the current situation of shark sightings on our coasts, to present some data. For example the Mediterranean is home to hundreds of species of sharks, including the great white shark, the largest and most powerful marine predator. Most species live offshore, in the depths. When a shoreline intrusion occurs, it is always justified for some reason.
On the popular level, there are often misconceptions about sharks, for example, when they are compared to dolphins. While the latter are mammals, like whales or killer whales, sharks are fish, although it can be said that they are unique fish. In addition to its peculiar shape and behavior, its skeleton is made up of cartilage rather than bone. That is why they are called Cartilaginous Fish, a zoological group that also includes Rays and Chimeras. Still, they are vertebrates, since they have a backbone.
There are many myths regarding the aggressiveness of sharks and the danger they pose to humans, in part heightened by certain film productions. Some of the stories that are told are true, but not as horrifying as they are presented in certain books and action movies. Of the nearly 400 species of sharks that currently exist, only 20% are dangerous to humans.. In the Mediterranean, only two human shark attacks are added and none of them resulting in death.
Between the potentially dangerous species Noteworthy are the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), the bull shark (Carcharinus leucas) and the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus). Other species, which under certain circumstances, can attack as a defensive mechanism are the gray shark (Carcharinus plumbeus) or the blue shark (Prionace glauca). All of them, present in Mediterranean waters.
Despite the fascination with sharks, humans are largely to blame for their increasingly worrying regression. Mediterrania-CIE cites as causes of shark population decline the following:
- the lack of food due to the overexploitation of species that are part of their diet (squid, tuna, sea bass, etc.)
- the fishing of the sharks themselves to sell the fins in international markets such as China, Japan, Morocco or Senegal
- accidental fishing due to drift or trawl nets used for fishing other species; pollution and the constant and accelerated destruction of the coastline that diminishes the quality of its habitat, its food resource and the ease of laying eggs or giving birth to young
Genciencia | Sharks in Tarragona
