Diver harpoons ‘near-threatened’ shark off Salina

It is not clear from initial reports whether the diver in question was equipped with scuba gear. If so, spear-fishing with diving equipment is illegal.

Blue sharks are otherwise not protected at law, though conservationists argue that the time has come to introduce legislation for their protection

Alex Buttigieg, also knows as The Sharkman for his work with sharks, explains that the Mediterranean population of blue sharks has dwindled by around 85% in the past 15 years.

“The reason for this decline has mainly to do with shark-finning, but species such as blue shark are also often caught as by-catch – i.e., unintentionally while fishing for other targeted species,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Efforts to add this fish to the list of protected species have so far not been successful, though Buttigieg is hopeful that the EU will pass the necessary legislation in the near future.

“We have been more successful with the Porbeagle,” he added with reference to a recent ban on fishing for this species in the Atlantic. The ban is expected to be extended to the Mediterranean shortly, but there is no indication of corresponding legal protection for blue sharks.

And yet the conservation status of blue shark is not promising. Globally the fish is considered ‘near threatened’, and its status in the Mediterranean is vulnerable.

Buttigieg described the specimen of blue shark caught yesterday, estimated at just under two metres, as ‘slightly on the large side’.

He added that blue sharks are not generally considered dangerous, and are hardly ever known to attack humans.

“The fact that it was caught near Salina may be significant. There are a number of tuna pens in that area, which may have attracted the shark to come close to shore. It may also have been old, sick or wounded, in which case it would seek shallow waters.”