Shark Funeral: Hundreds of Illegally Slain, Threatened Sharks Buried at Sea in Galapagos Islands

The bodies of 379 sharks of at least seven threatened species were returned to the water days ago, after being seized from a vessel illegally fishing in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

The bodies of 379 sharks of at least seven threatened species were returned to the water days ago, after being seized from a vessel illegally fishing in the Galapagos Marine Reserve. 

Last week, marine ecologist, Dr. John Bruno, brought the world’s attention to the seizure of hundreds of dead sharks from a fishing vessel intercepted by Galapagos National Park (GNP) authorities and the Ecuadorian Navy. The ship had been illegally fishing inside the Galapagos Marine Reserve. It was the largest seizure in the park’s history and resulted in the arrests of 30 people on board. After a team of researchers assessed the illegal haul, the bodies were returned to the ocean, while three of the criminals were forced to watch. The incident highlights the unsustainable nature of illegal shark fishing operations, which are on the rise in the Galapagos after the collapse of local sea cucumber fisheries.
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Bushwarriors USA

http://bushwarriors.org/

The purpose of the Bush Warriors organization is to create global awareness about the plight of the world’s wildlife and biodiversity. Many human activities are responsible for species declines around the globe. Exploding human demand for animals and their body parts is fueling some of the most horrific, inhumane, exploitative crimes against wildlife— poaching, bushmeat trade, exotic animal trade, and so much more. Some of the world’s most popular animals— elephants, rhinos, tigers, lions, dolphins, bears, and more— are on the brink of extinction because of this. At the current poaching rate these species are expected to permanently disappear from their natural habitat within the next 20-50 years. Some, such as central African elephants, could be gone in less than three years.