PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Nature Foundation says it has been receiving reports that individuals are trophy-hunting the resident shark population and killing them within Man of War Shoal Marine Park.
The foundation wants this practice discontinued and it has stressed that sharks have a very high value to the ecology of the island and the island's coral reef ecosystem, and are a major attraction to visiting dive tourists. The majority of divers who visit the island hope to see a shark while diving.
Apart from that, the Nature Foundation and local dive operators are using sharks to control the present lionfish invasion.
Fewer and fewer sharks are being seen and those that are seen show disturbing signs of considerable fishing damage, the foundation said, adding that one shark had been seen with the left side of its face torn away leaving its eye-socket exposed. Another was seen with its jaw broken open and unable to feed.
Populations have been going from approximately 20 individuals to now only two or three being seen in the locations they are known to frequent.
Sharks are an apex predator and are essential to the health of local coral reefs. "If we do not have sharks we will lose our coral reef ecosystem. Sharks keep the reefs clean of unhealthy fish, which keeps the ecosystem in balance. Also, the majority of visiting divers come to see local coral reefs as well as sharks. A system collapse will occur if we lose these species and this very important tourism product will be lost," said Nature Foundation Marine Park Manager Tadzio Bervoets.
"We have also been trying very hard to develop a way in which we introduce predatory species, particularly sharks, to lionfish as a prey item in the hopes of controlling the infestation. We have been catching specimens and presenting them to sharks to increase the learning curve of them recognizing lionfish as a prey item. With the loss of this very important species the lionfish problem will only get worse."
The Nature Foundation has investigated the incidents and has found that sharks are not being caught by local traditional fishermen; rather they are being caught by sport fishermen who use expensive fishing gear and high powered boats.
These individuals deliberately chum the water to catch and kill the animals, particularly at night. Many reports have been coming into the Nature Foundation office of persons witnessing the killing of sharks, again particularly at night.
Local fishermen are also complaining about these incidents, as the sharks are caught and left for dead. Divers have had to remove hooks and lines attached to the sharks on many occasions. Many sharks are not able to feed due to the damage caused by these irresponsible fishermen. There has also been evidence of baby sharks being fished after they have just been born.
Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunication and Transport Franklin Meyers was briefed on these incidents during the signing ceremony for the Man of War Shoal Marine Park. He assured that steps would be taken to ban deliberate chumming and fishing for sharks in the territorial waters of St. Maarten.
The presence of sharks is vital to St. Maarten's economy. They are a major attraction to the island and if current trends continue, the island will lose this vital tourism product and important revenue will be lost, not to mention the collapse of the coral reef ecosystem so important for diving, snorkelling, coastal protection and beach replenishment.
The Nature Foundation will initiate patrols to be carried out at night to combat the fishing of sharks.
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