The body of a blue Amaletz shark was found Tuesday night at Maayan Tzvi beach near Caesarea.
Shai Kabessa, an inspector from the Nature and Parks Authority, arrived at the beach following a report received by the authority's hotline, and transferred the shark for examination of its circumstances of death.
Its length reaches up to 4 meters. The body of the shark found, photo: Shai Cabessa - Israel Nature and Parks Authority
The Nature and Parks Authority explained that the Blue Amaltz, or by its foreign name "Mako", is exceptionally hydrodynamic and one of the fastest sharks in the world. Unlike most sharks, sharks are able to maintain a high body temperature from the environment. It is found in wide areas, from the surface to a depth of 400 meters, and reaches a length of up to 4 meters. In addition, it is a critically endangered species in the Mediterranean Sea.
The authority also emphasized that the breeding season for sharks is currently at an end, and this is intended to allow the fish resource to be renewed. During this period, fishing in the Mediterranean Sea is prohibited, except in cases where permits have been issued by the Chief Fisheries Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, which are listed on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Nature and Parks Authority.
Critically endangered. The body of the shark, photo: Shai Cabessa - Israel Nature and Parks Authority
The same regulations are designed to protect fish from direct fishing during the most sensitive season for them, when they place the next generation, and also to prevent indirect damage to fish caught in non-selective fishing gear as bycatch – that is, fish and animals that are caught even though they are not target species.
The Nature and Parks Authority wished to note that in the event of encountering illegal fishing, this should be reported to the Nature and Parks Authority's hotline at *3639.
One of the fastest in the world. The body of the shark, photo: Shai Cabessa - Israel Nature and Parks Authority
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