The Brief
- Researchers are investigating a mystery along Florida’s east coast after 13 dead sharks washed ashore this year.
- A dead hammerhead shark recently washed up off Shell Street on Indian Harbour Beach in Brevard County.
- Experts say catch-and-release fishing stress is a leading killer, threatening species that have dropped 70% in 50 years.
INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH, Fla. – Researchers are trying to figure out why dead sharks keep washing ashore along Florida’s east coast, including a hammerhead that recently turned up on Indian Harbour Beach. Sharks as a whole are struggling to survive and facing extinction if their numbers keep dwindling.
Brevard County shark deaths
What we know: At least 13 dead sharks have washed up along Florida’s east coast this year, including a recent hammerhead that landed off Shell Street in Indian Harbour Beach. Researchers from the Blue World Research Institute documented the latest scene and others to collect data on the deaths.
Shark populations are in critical danger, having declined by over 70% worldwide in the past 50 years. Experts note that while sharks are well adapted to their environment, human interaction causes intense stress. Catch-and-release fishing is one of the primary reasons sharks die, as taking them out of the water to remove hooks causes severe strain.
What they’re saying:…