Aming: Likely The Same Shark Being Seen

Following the recent shark sightings, local expert Choy Aming said he is “almost positive that the same hammerhead is being spotted repeatedly” and explained that hammerheads “are quite docile and are not really a threat to people” and “noted that this may be the only hammerhead you see in Bermuda in your life.”

There have been repeated sightings of a shark lately, with videos showing the hammerhead shark going viral on social media, as people express great interest in the island’s rather unusual visitor.

Mr. Aming, who is involved with Bermuda Shark Project, told Bernews, “I am almost positive that the same hammerhead is being spotted repeatedly. I have been sent probably 10 different videos of the hammerhead over the last few weeks.

“This shark was first in Flatts and then spotted twice in St.George’s Harbour at the beginning of April. No one saw it for a week or so and then it was spotted at Swing Bridge and twice in St. Georges Harbor again. The last sighting was in the channel near Admiralty House on the weekend.

The shark seen in Flatts earlier this month:

“Hammerheads are quite docile and are not really a threat to people. There are no recorded human fatalities from hammerheads. This one seems to be between 6 and 7 feet. Measurement is from the nose to the fork of the tail, not the tip.

“This is a larger juvenile as they are not reproductively mature until about 10 feet long. I have swam with lots of hammerheads in other countries including a school of 50 in the Galapagos. They are very special animals.

“Females have been known to asexually reproduce, ‘virgin’ birth. We have very few hammerheads around the island. They are typically a schooling fish and here they only seem to be spotted as individuals. Worldwide hammerheads have experienced approximately a 90% decline in the last 4 decades.

“In 25 years on the water I have seen 2 single individuals offshore and probably heard of 2 being caught. The schools of hammerheads off Castle Harbour may have existed decades ago but that is not the case anymore. They were probably fished out.

“It is very easy to overfish sharks, and any other apex predator. They often take a decade to become reproductively mature and their shiver [the group of offspring] is only a dozen or so.

“It is actually very easy to overfish anything in Bermuda because we have a small platform with limited recruitment [new animals added by immigration]. Before too many people start freaking out, realize that this may be the only hammerhead you see in Bermuda in your life. Enjoy the moment.”

#Animal #BermudaMarine #Sharks

Category: All, Environment, News