A blue shark was lucky to come across some amateur fishermen who were out at sea on a fishing trip last weekend, as the crew assisted and released the shark, which could have encountered difficulties due to a plastic ring (the ones used for six-packs of water and soft drinks) that was wrapped around its body.

The amateur fishermen came across three sharks in all, one of which they caught and released soon after they cut the plastic ring using a filleting knife. Crew member Josef Farrugia, who cut the plastic and freed the animal, observed that as they had caught the shark, the plastic ring was putting pressure on its skin, which had started creasing; he said the plastic would probably have cut into its skin if the action had been prolonged a little longer. Another crew member, Marcel Zammit Marmara, said the shark was fighting for life with strong movements. The skipper of the boat was Andrew Bonello.

While commending the crew’s decision to cut the plastic ring and free the shark, Nature Trust (Malta) marine conservation officer Graziella Cavlan said: “Plastic rings that end up in the sea can be very harmful to sharks and other marine animals, some of whom can choke on plastic.

“Should anyone come any plastic items in the sea, they are urged to collect them, dispose of them on land and whenever possible even recycle them.”

Nature Trust (Malta) president Vince Attard added, “Plastic rings such as the ones mentioned above have also caused turtles to lose a flipper, so it is extremely important to dispose of such material properly.”

Plastic and other garbage that ends up in the sea can also be washed onto the shore, polluting coastal habitats. It is estimated that more than 80% of marine pollution comes from waste produced on land, including oil, fertilisers and toxic chemicals.

Plastic items and balloons, as well as other solid waste that makes its way to the sea, can pose serious problems to marine animals. Plastic decomposes very slowly and is often mistaken for food by many marine species such as whales, dolphins and turtles. When ingested, plastic can cause problems to these animals’ respiratory and digestive systems.

Nature Trust (Malta) will be participating in European Shark Week between 15 and 23 October, with a series of events aimed at bringing out the importance of sharks to marine ecosystems. It is evident that shark numbers around the Maltese Islands and in the Mediterranean have reduced drastically over the years; this is not good news for the sea’s ecosystems, because sharks are at the top of the marine food pyramid and they control the natural balance of the ecosystem.

Events planned for European Shark Week include a ‘swim for the sharks’ activity, a film night, scuba diving, as well as a reading session for children.

A Europe-wide petition, which one can access by visiting the Nature Trust (Malta) Facebook group and which will soon be available on www.naturetrustmalta.org, will be central to the European Shark Alliance’s approach this year. The petition, which will be presented to ministers, calls for a complete ban on removing shark fins at sea, shark and ray catch limits being based on scientific advice and the precautionary approach, and EU and national protection for endangered shark and ray species.

Blue sharks prefer deeper waters and rarely come close to the shore. The top part of their body is deep blue, their sides are more light coloured and their underside is white. Such sharks grow up to 3.8 metres in length and can weigh up to 200 kilograms. This shark species feeds primarily on squid, cuttlefish, octopus, lobster, shrimp and crab.

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