A passion for animals led fifteen-year-old Finn Holland to the rescue when a shark washed ashore near his residence in Maces Bay, a coastal community in southern New Brunswick.
On a Saturday evening, Holland and his family took their side-by-side vehicle down their lengthy driveway to the beach at Maces Bay, located southwest of Saint John.
Upon spotting the shark, Holland initially thought it was severely injured or deceased, but then noticed subtle movements.
With courage, Holland grabbed the shark by the tail and guided it back into the ocean, where it swiftly swam away.
Finn Holland saved a porbeagle shark measuring two meters in length and weighing 70 kilograms that washed up on the shore. (Submitted by Jill Holland)
Initially hesitant due to its size and weight, Holland eventually identified the shark as a porbeagle shark.
Expressing amazement, Holland described the encounter as fascinating.
Jill Holland, Finn’s mother, expressed that her son’s impromptu act did not surprise her, as it aligned with his nature of taking immediate action without hesitation.
Having resided in the area for 11 years, the Hollands had never heard of sharks in the vicinity, making this a rare occurrence.
According to shark expert Neil Hammerschlag, such encounters are uncommon, especially in the natural environment without human intervention like fishing.
‘Rare’ encounter, expert says
Hammerschlag noted that porbeagle sharks have the unique ability to regulate their body temperature, allowing them to navigate colder waters in regions like Atlantic Canada and New England.
However, the sighting in shallow waters was unusual, suggesting the shark might have been distressed, possibly due to illness or previous entanglement in fishing gear.
Hammerschlag also mentioned a significant decline in porbeagle shark population over the years due to overfishing, further emphasizing the rarity of the encounter.
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