Apex predators seldom just drop dead, so an explanation was needed when the carcass of a seemingly healthy 11-foot, 4-inch great hammerhead shark was discovered off southeast Florida.
Great hammerheads have few natural enemies — other than killer whales — and it was clear the shark had not been attacked.
So what killed it? Closer inspection revealed a clue in the shark’s mouth.
It was a large hook, indicating the majestic female had died as a result of catch-and-release sports fishing, the Marine Megafauna Foundation: Americas wrote in an Aug. 18 Facebook post.
“This shark almost certainly perished post release … which can occur due to the stress of being captured,” the foundation said.
“This is more likely in instances where there is a long fight, where the shark is kept out of water for photos or gear removal, and is more likely with sensitive species like great hammerheads.”
The shark was discovered by a team monitoring sea turtle nests, who then alerted shark researchers so they could collect data off the carcass, officials said.
Great hammerheads have been known to live more than 40 years, and the largest on record was 20 feet, Oceana.org reports. The species is considered endangered due to a 90% mortality rate when they are caught or captured, intentionally or otherwise, Oceana says.
“This is so unbelievably heart breaking. A lot of people think that catch and release fishing of great hammerheads is not dangerous to the animal,” We Love the Sea Foundation Director Angela Warrior wrote on the Marine Megafauna Foundation’s Facebook page.
“These sharks are very fragile, they get extremely stressed and will release lactic acid which eventually shuts down their organs and they die.”
