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LOCAL Wednesday 27 January 2021

Sharks found with dangerously high levels of heavy metals in The Caribbean

ORANJESTAD — In a new of metals and metalloids that are considered toxic
study, researchers from the entering the marine en- for human consumption.
non-profit research institute vironment, posing poten- The study also found that
Beneath the Waves (BTW) tial risks to biodiversity and reef sharks, the more resi-
documented and revealed food security. Evaluating dent species, had higher
alarmingly high levels of muscle tissues of 36 individ- mercury levels than tiger
12 heavy metals, including ual sharks from six species, sharks, and that reef sharks’
mercury, in the muscle tis- the results from this study mercury levels increased
sues of large reef and tiger provide the first account as they matured and grew
sharks sampled throughout of metal concentrations in larger.
The Bahamas. Published sharks sampled in The Ba-
today in Scientific Reports, hamas, a relatively pristine “Understanding how sharks
the new findings carry im- marine ecosystem where are affected by humans is
portant implications for hu- sharks live risk-free in a large critical for ongoing conser-
man health in the Greater marine protected area. vation efforts of these eco-
Caribbean region, where Sharks are not commonly logically and economically
sharks are occasionally consumed by humans in important species,” says Dr.
consumed by humans, The Bahamas. Oliver Shipley, the study’s
even though strictly pro- As apex predators, sharks lead author, Research As-
hibited around several is- naturally bio accumulate sociate at Beneath the
land such as in the Yarari toxins in their bodies from Waves and postdoctoral
Sanctuary (Bonaire, Saba, eating other species of fish. researcher at The University
St. Eustatius) and around St. While the impacts on shark of New Mexico. “Working Photo credit: @diegocamejo (all rights reserved)
Maarten. health remain unknown, in areas such as The Ba-
the concentrations of met- hamas where shark abun- important for us to be able rine food web, the human
Over the last century, hu- als quantified as present dance is relatively stable to establish these baseline health risks of ingesting
man activities have rap- in the study were deter- and healthy due to effec- studies. If the levels are high heavy metals by consum-
idly accelerated the influx mined to exceed the levels tive long-term protection, is in The Bahamas, imagine ing Caribbean sharks spe-
what they could be in oth- cies are clear.
er parts of the world where
sustainability and environ- “Shark fisheries are not
mental conservation are very prevalent in most of
not a priority.” the Greater Caribbean re-
gion, but eating sharks can
“This work underscores the be culturally important to
benefits of the Bahamas some nations,” says study
shark sanctuary for con- co-author Dr. Austin Galla-
ducting important baseline gher, Chief Scientist at Be-
studies on the health of our neath the Waves and co-
marine resources,” says Eric founder of The Caribbean
Carey, Executive Director Shark Coalition. “Yet with

of Bahamas National Trust. a strong demand for shark
“It also highlights the need products worldwide, this is
for sustained conservation another piece of evidence
efforts of sharks regionally, to steer people away from
which are important to the consuming sharks,” he
Bahamian economy and adds.
reef health,” he added.
“Humans and oceans are
While the researchers in intricately connected, and
the study identified the this work highlights the no-
need for future studies to tion that science can and
understand the pathways should guide decisions that
for how these metals ulti- improve ocean and hu-
Image credit: @johanny/DCNA (all rights reserved) mately enter into the ma- man health.”q