With no way out to the ocean and the reopening of the commercial fishing season looming on July 15, a very sad outcome was feared for the shark, so the team dropped everything they were doing and headed to the spot.

It took three attempts, but by late afternoon we managed to capture this beautiful female measuring approximately 150 cm and, after 6 or 7 minutes carefully removing her from the net (with the help of scissors), we safely released her into the sea, some 100 meters behind a dune, and watched her swim away strongly into the powerful surf.

Throughout the process, the shark was placed in tonic immobility (*) and its breathing movements were carefully monitored. The entire operation was done with the word SAFETY on everyone’s top of mind. Not only the animal’s safety, but also the safety of people, including many beachgoers who watched the process and lent us precious help, which we are very thankful for.

So here’s a big fat hug to the “Dream Team” that pulled this unexpected feat with only a few minutes of preparation: Flying Sharks’ João Correia & Pedro Marques, our regular friends and honorary team members Simão Maia & Filipe Pereira, and our new friend Carlos Pombinho, who stopped at nothing to put all the right tools in our hands.

Double thanks to Miguel Henriques (and his family), as well as the rest of the ICNF team, and also Gonçalo Lobato for the magnificent photo(s).

Here’s also a huge shout-out to Clem & Maureen, our besties from 121 Animal Handling Products, and to our fisherman friend Joaquim Viralhada for their excellent equipment!

(*) “Tonic immobility” is a state of dormancy that some sharks enter when they are inverted, that is, placed belly up. For more detailed technical info, go to Google Scholar and search for the keywords “Watsky Gruber tonic immobility”.

PS – Below please find some links to news pieces (in Portuguese only, sorry) that have come out in Portuguese media. We were quite the toast when this happened. Check out a nice gallery of cute photos after the media links and also a wonderful video montage.

https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/amp/devolvido-ao-mar-tubarao-preso-na-lagoa-de-santo-andre-em-santiago-do-cacem

https://www.tsf.pt/4519631219/tubarao-retido-na-lagoa-de-santo-andre-foi-devolvido-ao-mar

https://www.msn.com/pt-pt/noticias/ultimas/devolvido-ao-mar-tubar%C3%A3o-retido-na-lagoa-de-santo-andr%C3%A9/ar-BB1pW4we

https://radiosines.sapo.pt/noticias/foi-hoje-devolvido-ao-mar-o-tubarao-que-estava-retido-na-lagoa-de-santo-andre-em-santiago-do-cacem

https://osetubalense.com/ultimas/tubarao-preso-na-lagoa-de-santo-andre-foi-devolvido-ao-atlantico

https://www.publico.pt/2024/07/15/azul/noticia/tubarao-encalhado-lagoa-santo-andre-devolvido-mar-veja-video-2097584

https://tvi.iol.pt/noticias/videos/tubarao-que-estava-na-lagoa-de-santo-andre-foi-devolvido-ao-mar/6693bf0f0cf2cd207b84aa58

The post A Saturday afternoon sharky adventure, Flying Sharks style appeared first on Flying Sharks.

You may remember Shamil from 2021, when he received 550 euros from us, so he could do his research on the wound healing capabilities of blacktip reef sharks at the CRIOBE on Moorea, French Polynesia.

Shamil is currently conducting chronic stress experiments with blacktip reef sharks at the CRIOBE on Moorea and needed some additional funding, so we sent him 200 euros.

Go, Shamil! 🙂

The post Research Fund 23/03 :: Shamil Debaere appeared first on Flying Sharks.

Because sharks are getting decimated by commercial fisheries, and not just in remote parts of the world. European fleets are also to blame for this catastrophic decline, which is particularly serious with Mako sharks, shown in the main picture.

Did you know that Mako shark females mature at around 150 kilos, and they are regularly harvested under 50 kg by commercial Portuguese and Spanish longliners targetting Swordfish?

This is but one of the many reasons why a significant part or our time, and a decent chunk of money, are devoted to education and conservation efforts.

It is complety necessary to create this awareness about what is happening with sharks and take action.

We have, today, good organizations doing this work.

So, we therefore encourage you to do something too.

Follow our friends from A.P.E.C.E. and Loving the Planet, who are doing great things for our planet – and sharks.

And we encourage our friends and clients to donate a residual fraction of their invoice to Research & Conservation efforts.

Because there’s nothing scarier than an ocean without sharks.

Did you like this article? Find others here!

The post Shark Conservation appeared first on Flying Sharks.

Contributions from clients for Research Fund in 2022: 3.787,03 €

Contributions from clients and donors for Humanitarian Fund in 2022 (first year): 4.535,65 €

Funds awarded to Research in 2022: 8.775,80 €

Funds awarded to Humanitarian causes in 2022 (first year): 4.390,08 €

Total contributions from clients for Research Fund since 2007: 88.753,47 €

Total funds awarded since 2007: 92.229,97 €

We’d like to thank all our clients and donors for their generous contributions and look forward to continuing awarding these funds in 2023 and many more years to come.

If you want to know more about our Research and Humanitarian Funds, you can click here.

Follow us on social media to keep up with the news. Click here.

The post Our Research and Humanitarian Funds in 2022 appeared first on Flying Sharks.

Check it out here and, have no fear, because the translation is included… Although quite a few details were lost in it… Oh well…

The post Lidé žralokům nechutnají appeared first on Flying Sharks.

This Conference is but a step in a larger plan that will train multiple small vet units which will operate throughout Ethiopia. When Jorge asked us if we’d like to get involved, we simply couldn’t say no!
Click here to watch the whole lecture.

The post Sharks in Danger Lecture appeared first on Flying Sharks.