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29 March 2024

Fujairah shark attack: 'Wolf-shark' not aggressive, says UAE ministry [video]

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By Staff

The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water has confirmed that the short-fin Mako shark, locally referred to as a ‘wolf shark’ is non-aggressive and of a migrant type, Emarat Al Youm newspaper reports.

The ministry stressed studies have shown that of the 400 shark species, there are specific types that are hostile and the short-fin Mako is not amongst them.

Short-fin Mako usually does not attack swimmers, divers or fishermen, as long as no one is attempting to catch or attack it.
 
It was also pointed out that the UAE’s temperate tropical warm waters are appropriate for the short- fin Mako shark, particularly in the Oman Sea region.  

The ministry emphasised that it is currently working on the preparation of a national plan of action for the conservation of sharks.

Imran Al Shamsi, Director, Sharjah Fishermen’s Association told the daily that the short fin sharks infiltrated the Arabian Sea from the Gulf of Oman. “They come in through ocean gullies and it is difficult for them to enter the creeks,” he was quoted as saying.

Shark attack

An Emirati captain and his boat crew survived a shark attack off the coast of Fujairah, Al Bayan reports.
 

According to the report, the shark weighed two tonnes and was approximately four metres in length.
 
The Emirati, identified as Hamza Hamid Al Shara, said he and his crew were in shock when the shark jumped into the boat.
 
“Fortunately, the shark hit a barrier and fell in the middle.

“We managed to catch it and one of our crew members got injured in the bargain,” he said.
 
Mahmoud Hamid Al Shara, head of the Fujairah Fishermen’s Association and Hamza's brother told Al Bayan that his sibling and crew members were lucky to escape.
 
He added that this species of shark has the ability to jump out of the water to up to a height of 5 metres.
 
Khalifa Massoud, deputy head of the association said this incident is the first of its kind in the area, in terms of the size of shark and the attack.

He added that these sharks disappeared for a long time from these waters, but now seem to have returned this season.

 

Tags: #Fujairah #Sharkattack #Emirati #Fishing #UAE