Swimmer spots shark trailing hook and line from its mouth

While swimming in the Galapagos Islands, this swimmer found himself to be the object of fascination for several large sharks. In fact, at times, they were surrounding him. Swimming in the Galapagos Islands is a beautiful experience. This diver was on a cruise boat that headed for the remote and fascinating world of Darwin’s Arch and Wolf Island, an area of the ocean where three major currents come together and bring with them an abundance of food for larger animals. The water is alive with sea turtles, fish, and sharks. After the last dive of the day, this tourist couldn’t resist slipping into the water beside the boat and swimming in the clear, blue water. Although he knew there were sharks, he wasn’t expecting them to suddenly surround him. A diver in the water is one thing, but one on the surface seems to attract a lot more attention. The sharks swam around and under him. A few even came up to look right into his camera. But surprisingly, one of the sharks had a metallic object in his mouth. It was a large hook with a wire and fishing line trailing behind.Show more

Fishing is highly regulated in the Galapagos Islands, but it does take place. The hammerheads also migrate a long distance, as do the sea turtles, whale sharks, and other large creatures. It is very possible that the hook has been in the mouth of this shark for a very long time. Stainless steel hooks are slow to rust and it’s a myth that there are enzymes in a fish’s mouth that makes them rot quickly. This hook might be in the shark’s mouth for a long time to come too. Fishing for hammerhead sharks is not a widespread practice. It is more likely that the shark was hooked accidentally as it took bait that was meant for another catch.

It does not appear, however, that this shark is particularly bothered by this hook as it seems to still be healthy and active.