Divers discovered at least eight Blacktip sharks with stab wounds in Pulau Hantu – paradise islands south of Singapore famous for their shallow lagoons.
“We are saddened today with diver reports on dead juvenile blacktip sharks seen at Pulau Hantu,” conservation group Marine Stewards said on Sunday.
According to the report, the divers spotted the baby sharks around the same area in Hantu Jetty, some 11 meters underwater.
All had puncture wounds near their gills, as well as ripped mouths.
Marine Stewards believes the little sharks were initially caught in a net, where they were “spiked to death” with hooks before being dumped back in the ocean.
Due to their timid nature, blacktip sharks don’t usually pose a threat to humans.
On its website, Wild Singapore said: “In Singapore, our sharks are threatened by over fishing by recreational fishermen, trapped in nets or traps. ”
“None of the shark species recorded for Singapore, however, are listed as threatened in the latest Red Data Book.”
Pulau Hantu, which is made up of two islets Pulau Hantu Besar abd Pulau Hantu Kechil, is famous for its snorkelling.
Adventure junkies travel to the area to snorkel or dive with sea turtles, whale sharks and, more occasionally, dolphins.
In Singapore, sharks can be seen by divers during intertidal trips to Singapore’s southern submerged reefs.
In 2019, the Parliament dismissed politician’s call to ban shark fin from public sector events.
Shark fin is a delicacy in some Asian cultures, including Singapore, where many restaurants still serve shark fins on their menus.
The barbaric practice, which includes removing the fins while the animal is still alive before throwing the wounded shark back in the ocean, has pushed many shark species on the edge of extinction.
