In the US state of Washington, an angler has to answer for allegedly repeatedly catching protected sharks. How KIRO 7 reports, the man is said to have deliberately caught Bluntnose sixgill shark and Broadnose sevengill shark on Fox Island Fishing Pier in the southern Puget Sound, pulled them out of the water and captured them for photos and videos.
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More InformationProsecutors charged him with nine counts of second-degree unlawful recreational fishing and making a false statement to a public official. The accused and his lawyer did not comment to the broadcaster. The presumption of innocence applies until a court decision is made.
Videos led investigators to the angler
According to investigators, social media posts showed, among other things, a shark held by its head, an animal pulled out of the water by its tail and a shark carried through the air. Another post showed a teenager with a shark. The investigators identified the teenager and questioned him and his father about the suspected fishing methods.
An officer later returned to the pier and said he saw the group catch a Bluntnose sixgill shark. The accused is said to have pulled the animal out of the water, wrestled with it and then posed for a photo. According to KIRO 7, the investigation and the preparation of the charges took several months.
Catching Bluntnose sixgill shark and Broadnose sevengill shark is prohibited
Washington prohibits the targeted fishing for, keeping or possession of sixgill, sevengill and thresher sharks. A Bluntnose sixgill shark must also not be taken out of the water. That comes from the applicable fishing rules for 2026.
The rules are intended to prevent animals injured by hooks, long drilling times or improper handling become. Even if a protected shark bites unintentionally, it must remain in the water and be released as gently and quickly as possible.
Puget Sound is an important growth area
The WDFW According to this, female Bluntnose sixgill shark in the Puget Sound move to shallower waters to give birth. Young animals there show a high degree of loyalty to their location. At the same time, Bluntnose sixgill shark grow slowly, have long generation times and produce comparatively few offspring.
The authority therefore fears that the documented exposure could have particularly affected pregnant animals. WDFW told KIRO 7 that the trauma could have led to the loss of offspring. However, it cannot be independently confirmed from the publicly known information whether this actually happened in individual animals.
A case with a signal effect
The case makes it clear why protection rules do not end with the discarding of an animal. Pulling out, carrying and restraining large sharks can cause significant stress and make a quick, gentle release difficult. Photos and videos from social media can also become important evidence.
For anglers this means: Before fishing, not only the catch limits and closed seasons, but also the rules for protected by-catches must be known. Especially in a sensitive habitat like the Puget Sound, the correct handling of an unintentionally hooked shark can determine its survival.
