Critically Endangered Sand Tiger Shark Found Dead on Block Island Shoreline
Thursday, September 23, 2021
The Atlantic Shark Institute (ASI) announced Thursday that a "critically endangered Sand Tiger shark was found dead on the Block Island shoreline.
ASI said that they were contacted earlier in the week by a beachgoer about the shark that was found on the southwest portion of the island.
According to ASI, Sand Tiger sharks are considered critically endangered worldwide by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“We really appreciate being notified about these sharks as otherwise, we wouldn’t have a good sense of where, when and how often these events occur”, said Jon Dodd, ASI Executive Director.
About Sand Sharks
According to the IUCN, the population of these sharks is in trouble and have been decreasing for decades -- which is the reason they have been listed as a species of concern, a prohibited species and critically endangered.
“We hate to see such a beautiful and protected shark end up on the beach like that and worse, we weren’t able to get samples for NOAA’s Apex Predator Lab in Narragansett”, said Dodd.
ASI dispatched a volunteer who has expertise in taking samples for study but he indicated that the shark was no longer present due to tide and winds that likely reclaimed the shark. Sand tiger sharks can grow to about 10 feet in length and weigh several hundred pounds.
ASI is currently conducting studies on great white, mako, thresher, blue and porbeagle sharks in and around Rhode Island waters. They also have an array of receivers around Block Island to detect sharks tagged with acoustic transmitters.
“The value of being notified of these discoveries both on and off the water is critical, and we really appreciate the public’s help on findings like this one”, said Dodd.
You can learn more about the Atlantic Shark Institute at www.atlanticsharkinstitute.org or you can find them on Facebook and Instagram.
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