Shark expert Dr Riley Elliott explains how to stay safe around sharks at holiday hotspots plus reveals his new app that lets you track sharks in real-time this summer. Video / NZ Herald
A shark expert is urging people to respect sharks after a dead, pregnant bronze whaler shark was butchered and finned at Onehunga Bay Reserve
Dr Riley Elliot condemned the act, emphasising the need to avoid harmful practices that supported an illegal trade
Clinton Duffy noted the shark was ready to give birth and likely died after being caught on a fishing line or net
An expert is disgusted after a dead, pregnant shark was butchered and finned on a central Auckland beach, saying sharks deserve respect and the finning encourages harmful practices.
A man, accompanied by two children, was seen hacking at the animal at the Onehunga Bay Reserve after it had washed up dead on the shore.
Photos posted to social media later showed its head and fins had been taken and body cut open, leaving its babies strewn on the beach.
DoC’s marine science adviser Karen Middlemiss told the Herald the shark species was a bronze whaler - “not a protected species”.
A man, accompanied by three others, including two children, was hacking at the animal at Onehunga Bay Reserve beach.
However, Dr Riley Elliot, described by his alma mater the University of Auckland as “to sharks what Steve Irwin is to crocodiles”, said he was disgusted by the treatment of the “majestic animal”.
He said the shark would have been looking for somewhere safe to give birth and most likely had died after being caught by fishermen.
“That shark wouldn’t have naturally washed up on the beach, because they’re pretty good at surviving ... 99% of the time you will see on the body there will be red lines on the body from a fishing line or a net.”
Sharks that had been caught, accidentally or otherwise, could die from exhaustion after escaping.
He said a pregnant shark spending hours trying to escape after being hooked or caught in a net could easily succumb.
“It’s a hard thing to survive.”
He urged people to take care when doing recreational water activities such as fishing, to avoid catching sharks and to make sure to release them as quickly as possible without removing them from the water.
“When you send 5 million people into nature we have adverse impacts.”
At this time of year, people should be even more aware of sharks as they would be coming in close to shore to give birth.
“This is their kindergarten,” Elliott said.
It was “just really, really sad” to see the shark treated as this one was.
“Jesus Christ ... Clearly this person is taking its fins off, I imagine for shark fin soup.”
DoC’s marine science adviser Karen Middlemiss told the Herald the species of shark disembowelled and left to waste was a bronze whaler - "not a protected species".
“Just like any dead animal you should treat it with respect,” he said. Had the person used the whole animal it would not be as offensive, though he noted it was not recommended to eat sharks due to the high level of metals in their bodies.
“Shark-finning is not something I support at all.”
He said regardless of the shark being dead before it was butchered, taking the fins was similar to having a “sustainable rhino horn” if such a thing existed.
“It’s still encouraging and supporting the trade.”
Curator of marine biology at Auckland Museum Clinton Duffy said judging by the size of the embryos, the shark was ready to give birth when she died.
“Bronze whalers are common around the upper North Island and females come inshore to give birth over spring and summer. Females and pups are commonly in harbours and shallow bays and along ocean beaches at this time.
“This is the shark responsible for most shark sightings around North Island beaches during this period.”
It was “very uncommon” for sharks to strand themselves in the way whales and dolphins do, but occasionally happened when they were sick or being chased by predators such as orca.
Eillot said he had a nuanced opinion on the fishing and hunting of animals but was angered by the fact “the body of the shark hasn’t even been utilised”. Photo / Supplied
“It is more likely this shark was caught in a net and drowned, or was caught by a sport fisher and did not survive release.”
While the species was not protected, Duffy said people should be careful about the species of sharks they find on the beach.
“Great white sharks, which are fairly common in Manukau Harbour, are a protected species and interfering with the carcass of a protected species is illegal and carries a substantial fine.”
He said carcasses of large marine animals could provide “a lot of information on the biology of these poorly-known animals”, and encouraged people to let researchers or local museums know about them so they could document them.
“They won’t always be able to respond, but the information and images taken of the animal will more than likely add to our knowledge of the species.”
Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.
Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice, and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.
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