The Sharkman meets Chi-Ju Yu (a.k.a. Debbie)

 

My shark research shows that Taiwan has the highest amount of Megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) records. This is thanks to the complete catch and report system introduced in 2013.  Due to this, in 2020, the Fisheries Agency and the Council of Agriculture (FACOA) issued a directive prohibiting the capture of Great White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias), Basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) and Megamouth sharks. (see here). One scientific researcher and friend, involved in collecting and recording such data is Chi-Ju Yu (a.k.a. Debbie).

Click here to read an interview I have just had with Debbie. 

More Megamouth Sharks reported.

 A few days ago, this video clip showing a snorkeler swimming with a Megamouth Shark was released on the web and made News worldwide.

On further investigation I found out that this news bit was only the tip of the ice berg. The story started towards the last week of May, when Bethany Smith travelled from UK to Taiwan, in search of the elusive Megachasma pelagios  (Megamouth Shark). In Taiwan, Bethany met with Shark researcher Chi-Ju Yu (Debbie) and Underwater Videographer Zola Chen. Together they joined two local fishermen on their boats, with the hope that they can find and tag a Megamouth Shark.

In the first five trips spread over a two week period, they had no Megamouths. On the 3rd. of June, their luck changed and they had two sharks in the nets. The first was a female of approx. 4m and the second was a male of around 3.5m. Debbie and the fisherman quickly tagged and released both sharks as Zola filmed the moment.

Four days later, on the 7th. of June, Bethany was joined by Zola on her last trip, While the nets were being pulled up, a huge 5m female was found. The two went into the water to release the shark. This was the moment captured in the above video by Zola. It is believed that this Megamouth Shark was again caught in the nets a few minutes later and released again! 

For someone who was hoping to find 1 shark, Bethany, Debbie & Zola discovered and helped save 3 Megamouths within 4 days of the 3 week adventure.

And that is not all!

Whilst researching the above, I found out that sometime during May, another 5 Megamouths were tagged and released by the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI).  Data about these sharks is currently withheld.

This brings the total number of recorded Megamouths to 294, of which 166 are from Taiwan.

It is worth remembering that in November 2020, the Taiwanese authorities enacted laws that totally protect the Megamouth Shark. The restrictions require that all Megamouths caught in Taiwanese waters are to be returned to the sea, regardless of whether or not they are alive when caught. Fishing operators must report any catches to authorities on returning to port.

Shark Incidents in 2023.

According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) report issued by the Florida Museum of Natural History, the number of "unprovoked" Shark incidents for 2023 is below the average for the last 10 years, but the number of fatalities increased slightly for the same period.

During 2023, the ISAF reported 69 unprovoked incidents. This number is slightly less than the average of 73 for the previous ten years. There were 10 fatalities last year, and this is a slight increase on the average 6 for the same period.

As is the trend, the U.S.A. tops the list with 36 reported incidents. Two of those were fatal. Australia reported 15 incidents 4 of which were fatal. Egypt, New Caledonia, Mexico and the Bahamas each reported one fatality.

I have been keeping records since 1990 and to date, there have been 2189 incidents of which 208 were fatal. That is 9.5%. When one considers the millions of people swimming and the thousands swimming with Sharks on a daily bases, these numbers are minimal. This chart shows the trend.

Considering that humans kill over 80 million sharks every year, it is the sharks that need to fear us, not the other way round.