(CMR) The negative impact of plastic on marine life has again been highlighted, with the Department of Environment reporting that a baby Caribbean reef shark was found dead after apparently becoming entangled in a plastic shoe/slipper.
The DoE said Amy Stratton found the shark with a plastic shoe around its body on the beach in South Sound. The post-mortality examination by Dr Johanna Kohler revealed the cause of death as suffocation.
According to the DoE, the shark became entangled in a plastic shoe (slipper), which prevented it from swimming and covered the gills. This stopped the water flow over the gills and, therefore, oxygen uptake.
The DoE stated that Dr Kohler also noted the shark was a male, 76 cm total length, with a clearly visible belly button. Caribbean reef sharks are about 70 cm long at birth, so Dr. Kohler was able to conclude that this shark was likely born in late July or early August, making it around a month old when it perished.
The examination of the stomach content revealed that the shark had not eaten recently, as only sand and a tiny worm were found.
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