A young animal enthusiast, Finn Holland, took swift action when he discovered a shark stranded on the shore near his residence in Maces Bay, a coastal community in southern New Brunswick.
Accompanied by his family, Finn drove down to the beach at Maces Bay and found a porbeagle shark in distress. Despite initial concerns about the shark’s size and weight, Finn courageously guided the shark back into the ocean, where it swam away.
Finn Holland rescued a porbeagle shark, measuring two meters and weighing 70 kilograms, that washed ashore. (Submitted by Jill Holland)
Sharing his experience, Finn described the encounter as fascinating and admitted feeling initial hesitation due to the shark’s size.
Finn’s mother, Jill Holland, expressed pride in her son’s selfless act, noting that helping the shark without hesitation was typical of Finn’s character.
Although sharks are not commonly seen in the area, a shark expert, Neil Hammerschlag, highlighted the rarity of such encounters in their natural environment.
‘Rare’ encounter, expert says
Hammerschlag explained that porbeagle sharks, known for their ability to regulate body temperature in colder waters, are not usually found close to shore. The expert suggested that the shark’s presence in shallow water may indicate distress.
Neil Hammerschlag, director of the Shark Research Foundation and president of Atlantic Shark Expeditions, noted the unusual sighting of the porbeagle shark in shallow waters. (Submitted by Neil Hammerschlag)
The decline in porbeagle shark populations due to overfishing further adds to the significance of this rare encounter, according to Hammerschlag.
