Quick Take
- A recent video of a man saving a juvenile great white shark from fishing line entanglement went viral online.
- Overall, an estimated 100 million sharks of all species are killed each year due to fishing activities, including targeted fishing, bycatch, and finning.
- Ghost gear is often at fault for accidental entanglement, with abandoned nets and fishing lines being the reason for animal harm.
Due to human waste and litter, wild animals often find themselves in harmful situations. Ocean life, for example, is frequently endangered by plastic debris and fishing lines. Although sharks are often perceived as intimidating and dangerous, they are still vulnerable to such threats. Thanks to the kindness of one brave man, a juvenile great white shark was untangled and rescued. The amazing video can be seen on this Instagram post by @abcnews. Read here to learn more.
Great white sharks, especially juveniles, swim close to shores, putting them at risk of getting caught in fishing lines.
©Martin Prochazkacz/Shutterstock.com
What Happened?
In the video above, a juvenile great white shark is seen struggling against a fishing line in which it has become entangled. Thankfully, a brave man was close by and was willing to help remove the line from the shark. The video quickly went viral online because of the courage and care shown to the shark. While the numbers are uncertain, an estimated 100 million sharks are fished each year. It is unclear whether the shark in the video was caught in the line intentionally or accidentally. This highlights the dangers humans pose to these animals. However, accidental catches are not uncommon, and fishers should be mindful of potential entanglement.
Thankfully, the man in the video was there to help the shark, but that is not always the case. Entanglement in fishing lines can be life-threatening, causing suffocation, starvation from an inability to hunt, infections from cuts, and increased vulnerability to predators. As with any other animal, entanglement is extremely dangerous and often fatal. Since some shark species, like great whites, regularly swim near shore, they can become entangled not only in commercial fishing lines but also in recreational ones.
Great white sharks are curious animals, which can be one reason they get caught in fishing lines.
©Stefan Pircher/Shutterstock.com
How Animals Get Caught in Debris
Unfortunately, animals get caught in human equipment and gear quite often. While they may get caught in active-use equipment such as a person’s fishing line or a boat’s net, ocean life also gets trapped in pollution and “ghost gear.” “Ghost gear” refers to abandoned fishing equipment like fishing lines, hooks, traps, and nets. Animals often mistake the equipment for food, as nets or lines can resemble seaweed or other marine life. Since many fishing lines are practically invisible underwater, many animals simply swim into them and get tangled. When animals panic and flail, the equipment can wrap more tightly around them, cutting into their flesh and causing deep wounds. Because of this, it is important for fishers to ensure they do not leave any gear behind.
