Several images of killed sharks from Cuba have sparked new concern among divers and marine conservationists. CiberCuba reported cases in Baracoa and Varadero on August 17, 2026. The images do not show a single large catch, but rather several events within a few months on different parts of the island’s coast.
The public appeal was formulated by Asociación de Buzos de Santiago de Cuba. The organization warns of the consequences for the marine food web, but avoids simply assigning blame: Cuba’s severe economic and supply crisis is shaping the decisions of many families. Protection must therefore take both the animals and the reality of life of the coastal population into account.
Three cases between Baracoa and Varadero
In May, a shark with a reported weight of more than 500 kilograms was caught in the coastal zone of Yumurí at Baracoa. Viral images showed the animal already dismembered on the bank. It is not possible to reliably determine which species was caught and under what conditions from the images alone.
In July, another large shark was caught off Calle 50 in Varadero. According to the original social-media post, this animal was also cut up afterwards. A few days later, a man transported a hammerhead shark through Varadero on a motorcycle, with its tail fin dragging along the road.
The images prove dead animals, but do not answer central questions: species, size and degree of maturity are not always scientifically confirmed. There is also a lack of publicly reliable information on fishing gear, permits, the exact location of the catch and possible bycatch. It would therefore be premature to automatically derive a concretely proven legal violation from every photo.
A warning that considers hunger and conservation together
The divers from Santiago de Cuba don’t just talk about a lack of environmental awareness. They specifically mention hunger, scarcity and the pressure to use available food. This classification does not excuse avoidable or illegal killing, but it shows why pure bans are often not enough in a supply crisis.
Effective protection therefore requires more than outrage over individual images. Fishermen and coastal communities need understandable rules, safe alternatives, effective controls and ways to accurately report catches. Without such structures, ecological goals and immediate livelihood security can quickly come into conflict.
Cuba’s sharks are already under heavy pressure
The scientific picture is serious. According to a 2023 inventory of Cuban cartilaginous fishes, 83 species are recorded in Cuban waters: 57 sharks, 25 rays and one chimaera. Around 47 percent of these species are considered threatened under the IUCN categories used; among sharks, 54.38 percent of species fall into a threatened category.
Not every shark fulfills the same ecological role. Coastal, reef and offshore species vary greatly in diet, growth and habitat. However, many grow slowly, reach sexual maturity late and produce only a few young. Repeated removals can therefore have a greater impact on local stocks than on faster-reproducing food fish.
The places mentioned also connect the Caribbean Sea with the western Atlantic. Sharks move across administrative and protected area boundaries. Individual local controls can therefore only be part of a strategy that brings together catch data, species identification, protected areas and regional cooperation.
Living sharks also have economic value
Sharks also have economic value for diving regions. Regular, responsibly managed encounters generate income for boat operators, dive centres, accommodation providers and other local businesses. That benefit can continue for many years, whereas a killed animal can be used only once. The argument holds, however, only when the revenue actually reaches coastal communities.
The Cuban divers’ appeal should therefore not be read as a conflict between hungry people and conservation. It describes a shared dependence: healthy seas support fisheries, tourism and food security over the long term. Short-term assistance, better documentation and consistent species protection must work together so that this foundation is not weakened further.