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Blue shark rescued from an illegal driftnet on Operation Siso

Thursday, 11 Jul, 2019

In late June, Sea Shepherd’s vessel M/Y Sam Simon intercepted an illegal driftnet in the waters around the Aeolian Island of Alicudi. After confirming the discovery with the ship’s small boats, they contacted the Coast Guard, who immediately sent their patrol vessel CP276 of Catania’s Marine Authority, with national fisheries inspectors on board. They verified the illegality of the 5km-long driftnet -- due to its 20 cm mash size -- and proceeded with its confiscation. As the driftnet was pulled onboard, 40 animals were found trapped in the mesh, including two sharks. One 3m-long blue shark was still alive and successfully released back into the sea.

The Italian Coast Guard begins retrieval of the illegal net, with the M/Y Sam Simon in the background. Photo by Flavio Gasperini/Sea Shepherd.
The Coast Guard agents measure the mash of the net to determine that it's illegal. Photo by Flavio Gasperini/Sea Shepherd.
Sea Shepherd crew on the small boats assist with the illegal driftnet's confiscation. Photo by Flavio Gasperini/Sea Shepherd.
Dead fish from the driftnet collected on Sea SHepherd's small boat. Photo by Flavio Gasperini/Sea Shepherd.
Sea Shepherd crew pass the bouys from the small boat to the Coast Guard. Photo by Flavio Gasperini/Sea Shepherd.
A dead tuna caught in the illegal net. Photo by Flavio Gasperini/Sea Shepherd.
Sea Shepherd crew hand the dead tuna to the Coast Guard agents.Photo by Flavio Gasperini/Sea Shepherd.
A dead swordfish trapped in the net. Photo by Flavio Gasperini/Sea Shepherd.
Dead fish on board the Coast Guard vessel. Photo by Flavio Gasperini/Sea Shepherd.
The first shark pulled up in the net is already dead. Photo by Flavio Gasperini/Sea Shepherd.
The second skark, a 3m-long blue shark, is still alive and released. Photo by Flavio Gasperini/Sea Shepherd. Watch the video below to see the shark's release.

Click here to learn more about Operation Siso

Watch the release of the blue shark in the video (below):

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