The Death Toll

01 May 2009
Dead Baby Tiger Shark and Loggerhead Turtle - Both found in Nets in a Marine Protected Area

Dead Baby Tiger Shark and Loggerhead Turtle - Both found in Nets in a Marine Protected Area

ANIMALS CAUGHT IN NETS - 1978 - 2008*


Turtles: 2,211
Rays: 6,940
Manta Rays: 1,508
Dolphins: 2,310
Sharks: 33,684

SHARKS CAUGHT IN NETS - BY SPECIES - 1978 - 2008


Dusky Sharks: 6,790
Hammerhead Sharks: 6,610
Ragged Tooth Sharks: 5,441
Oceanic Blacktip Sharks: 3,088
Zambezi Sharks: 1,249
Tiger Sharks: 1,528
White Sharks: 1,063
Whale Sharks: 26

(Italics indicate a targeted species. All else is bycatch.)

The figures above show total catches during the last 30 years. On average, approximately 12.5% of these sharks were tagged and released, although mortality rates vary by species.

The above data was supplied by KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board.

Comments (5) Trackback Leave a comment
  1. Ian October 28th, 2009 at 11:47 | #1

    These statistics are absolutely horrifying. I suggest that the nets are an archaic indescriminate killing system that seriously needs to be revisited. Surely we have realised that killing everything isnt the solution. Come on NSB. Lets hear from you.

  2. Ian October 28th, 2009 at 11:44 | #2

    How does the sharks board justify killing the white sharks that are a protected species. Surely they cannot be above the law? What is the rationale behind it. Is it science, protection, unavoidable? Sounds like the Japanese Whaling fleets killing whales for RESEARCH. All a lot of nonsense. I suggest they get prosecuted for killing white sharks like the rest of us would if we killed one.

  3. Corinne October 17th, 2009 at 18:33 | #3

    How can any human look at the list of creatures that are now gone forever and not feel the loss. I personally have a hard time looking at this list and the photographs and not cry. I sit here reading with tears streaming down my face from the loss of these amazing creatures.

  4. Jone Waitaiti September 1st, 2009 at 21:26 | #4

    Is there a way I can help to save the sharks…I’ve been a Dive Master for 10 years.

  5. Jone Waitaiti September 1st, 2009 at 21:22 | #5

    That is alot of sharks dead..thankyou who ever is involved.. take the nets away..

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