Above: a tiger shark
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Sustainable organization Sustainable Grenadines Incorporated (SUSGREN) is investigating the death of a large tiger shark near Mustique.
The shark was found floating on Wednesday in Rutland Bay in large quantities of seaweed, according to SUSGREN.
In a release, SUSGREN said it was an “unusual occurrence” in the Grenadines, in the Caribbean region and globally.
The shark was found by sea turtle researchers during an early morning patrol; it was determined to be an eleven-foot-long female tiger shark with no visible injuries.
SUSGREN said tiger sharks were “highly susceptible” to fishing pressure, and were officially considered “near threatened,” meaning their population faces extinction in the near future.
Tiger sharks have extremely low rates of reproduction and the female was not carrying any young.
The organization said checks were being made with shark experts about possible causes of death, including whether it might be linked to an influx of seaweed currently affecting the Eastern Caribbean.