The Thresher Shark, a species on the verge of extinction, was allegedly caught accidentally, but then cut into pieces and sold to locals and businesses in the area.
Although considered a delicacy and is highly valued, it is classified as endangered by the international union for the conservation of Nature.
Thresher sharks although large, are considered harmless to humans, feeding on small fish and it’s illegal to catch or harm them in Spain too.
Although it’s very unusual to see such large sharks near coasts, one large species was captured in Caleta de Velez a few years ago.
Francisco Pinto a shark specialist reports that on some occasions specimens have been spotted lurking around the mouth of ports such as Benalmadena but never so near the beaches. He added that ‘it’s a shame that there’s still unscrupulous individuals who do business via the capture and sale of sharks that are endangered’
