San Andrés environmental authorities announced special protection plan against indiscriminate shark hunting on the island

The death of an Italian tourist last Friday, on the beaches of the island of San Andrés, alerted the authorities to initiate contingency plans for the protection of marine life, considering that several inhabitants wanted to intervene against species, which they say were dangerous, that is why, since Coralina is taking precautionary measures to protect both sharks and other animals that surround this region, in order to avoid hunting them and evacuate them to an area where they are not in danger.

Initially, after learning about the fateful event of the previous week, from the San Andrés y Providencia Police Command and the Department of Mares and Coasts of Coralina, patrols were carried out in the area of incidence where the tourist died, in this case we sought to guarantee the protection of the shark, in the same way we seek to persuade the tourists, so that they would avoid accessing this sector. considering that some used it as a bathing area and diving into the sea, despite warnings.

According to the newspaper El País de Cali, the biologist Nacor Bolaños, pointed out that with the presence of several experts, a responsible hunting operation is being carried out for sharks, which may be involved in this situation, the maneuver is being carried out in the area known as Pox Hole. According to Bolaños, the activity seeks to conclude with the arrival of personnel in the area, they will install a satellite tag to locate these two sharks in the future, with this device the traffic of animals will be tracked in the area of incidence.

From the Coral Corporation, they invited the community to be calm and above all, to respect the life of the animals that inhabit the region, bearing in mind that ecosystems have lasted for centuries and the presence of these in some bathing areas can be generated by different factors, however, what is sought in this case is transfer these specimens to the safe area in order to reduce the risk of tourists and the species concerned.

Britton González, director of the Coral Corporation, told El Pais that the event that ended the life of the Italian tourist is a particular and rare case, considering that human flesh is not part of the shark's food chain, besides this, according to González, in the images exposed on social networks it is notorious that the animal did not attempt to consume the victim's meat, as it shows that it was only a bite, but considering the proportions of the shark, it was lethal.

Yesterday, the intervention operation resulted in the transfer of the female shark (galeocerdo cuvier), this, after the satellite tag was installed to be aware of its journey. The animal was placed in a safe area 10 miles from the island, the work was carried out by experts who took it in chain of custody through, the specimen moved, has a diameter of 3.6 meters and was found in the Pox Hole area.

The Environmental Authority of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve highlighted the contribution of sharks to the health of the marine habitat, taking into account that, within its food chain, it contributes to the balance of the fauna of this region, therefore, the hunting of these specimens should be avoided, in addition to the fact that they are a species that is permanently closed. Finally, the population is advised not to swim in prohibited areas, noting that it is important to inquire with the authorities about the sectors available for tourists to access the sea.

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