Many people sensitive to the situation of sharks and rays went last Friday to the EDF room in Grand-Case to deepen their knowledge of the island's underwater life and its protection.
It is with passion that Océane Beaufort, scientist within the Kap Natirel association in Guadeloupe, presented to an audience of nearly 50 people the various populations of sharks and rays that evolve in the waters of Saint-Martin. .
This association aims to protect the environment, specializing in marine species in the West Indies, with the motto: protect, learn, share.
We were therefore able to learn during this conference that the waters of Saint-Martin have 15 species of sharks, a rich and unique diversity, but some of them are unfortunately threatened with extinction.
Indeed, the famous nurse shark for example is considered vulnerable, it is then part of the red list and deserves protection.
Concerning the Caribbean reef shark, the scientists' report is clear with a high and imminent risk of extinction!
This is why sharks and rays have been banned from recreational fishing since 2019, even if professional fishing remains authorized but subject to quotas to control and limit their catches.
Both children and adults were made aware during this conference of how lucky we are to have such a great diversity of sharks in our waters and that is why their protection is a priority. The general public is also invited to participate, within the framework of a scientific approach, in information collection programs called: participatory science. Just share your observations of sharks or rays by joining the REGUAR on the Facebook page of Kap Natirel. All of us must adopt the right actions, more specifically, in the event of an involuntary capture of a shark, we must have the appropriate equipment, act quickly and have the right handling technique.
So everyone can get involved with Kap Natirel in various ways, whether by volunteering in community life, by making donations or by becoming a member, hoping for progress in our shark populations and their protection._LR
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