On New Year’s Day, the body of a male 4.25m (13.9 feet) thresher shark washed up on Par Sands Beach in Cornwall, shocking locals. Just a few months earlier, another thresher shark was found dead on a beach in Devon, hinting at a troubling trend for this vulnerable species.
Thresher sharks, with their distinctive whip-like tails as long as their bodies, are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN. While they are usually found in deeper waters, these predators occasionally venture into United Kingdom coastal waters during the summer. Known for their extraordinary hunting technique — using their tails to herd and subsequently then stun fish — they are often touted as a marvel of marine evolution.
But it’s that very same unique tail that makes them a target for fisheries, as they are sought after for their fins, meat, and liver oil. Like other species of shark, threshers are endangered primarily due to overfishing, bycatch, and habitat degradation. They are also frequently caught as bycatch in commercial and recreational fishing, where they become entangled in nets or hooked on lines not meant for them. Thresher sharks have slow reproductive rates, with females giving birth to only a few pups after long gestation periods; this low reproductive output makes it difficult for populations to recover from any heavy exploitation. Thresher sharks are not just iconic – they play a crucial role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. Their decline could lead to cascading effects on ocean biodiversity, highlighting the urgency of protecting these animals.
While the post-mortem examination of the shark is still pending, early assessments from Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Marine Strandings Network suggest that the shark found in Cornwall may have suffered significant trauma, likely caused by fishing lines. Cornwall Wildlife Trust said there was damage to the mouth of the animal, and signs of haemorrhaging, both of which likely occurred before the animal died. They emphasized the need for safer fishing practices to prevent such tragedies, particularly for species already teetering on the brink of extinction. Educational initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable fishing and minimizing bycatch could also help bridge the gap between marine conservation goals and recreational or commercial fishing interests.
Volunteers from the community worked together to remove the shark from the beach while keeping the area secure from curious onlookers. Yet, the sight of the lifeless predator sparked outrage among conservationists and residents alike. One community member took to social media to call out sport fishing as “animal abuse,” while others questioned the inconsistencies in marine protection efforts, such as banning plastic straws while permitting potentially harmful fishing methods. This tragedy is not just about one shark—or even one species. It encapsulates the larger story of how human activities are altering marine environments, often with devastating consequences.
Maybe 2025 will be the year we all unanimously agree on this fact, as there is growing frustration with policies that fail to address the broader, systemic issues affecting marine ecosystems. While no one ever wants to see such a majestic animal suffer, there is hope that these incidents will lead to meaningful action, ensuring that species like the thresher shark have a fighting chance in our increasingly pressured oceans. Every lifeless body that washes ashore tells a story… and it’s up to us to decide whether we will listen and act to change the narrative for these creatures.
