Page 106 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #06

Tales
Tal

from the
h h

A WILD WORLD OF
RIPPING YARNS
Sleeping Beauty: diver
Martijn ‘hypnotises’ a blue
shark and watches the
sun set from a boat after
WHO? a victorious day (inset).
CHRIS VYVYAN-
ROBINSON is a
scuba instructor,
film-maker and
journalist with a
passion for all marine wildlife,
but especially sharks.
WHAT?
BLUE SHARKS
WHERE?
THE AZORES

CHRIS AND HIS DIVE FRIENDS GO

ON A MISSION TO REMOVE FISH
HOOKS FROM SHARKS IN THE AZORES.

e were speeding across a blood slick and come from the depths to growing problem, so
tranquil ocean away from investigate. It took an hour for the first fin to he knew exactly what to do.
the island of Pico, the slice through the water, and we made sure He positioned himself in front of the shark
Azores. My diver friends the shark was lingering before we slipped and as it approached him he placed his
Wand I were going in search into the ocean. Soon after, other, smaller hand carefully on its snout and – almost
of sharks – but for a very unusual reason. sharks started to arrive, swimming in fast miraculously – turned it upside down.
It had become clear to us that blue and erratic patterns and bumping us when they It was incredible to watch – the shark lay
other sharks in the mid-Atlantic were being were able – attempting to assert dominance. inert, its muscles relaxed, its breathing deep
targeted by local fishermen, both for their Now it was really importance we stayed and rhythmic. It is the ability to put them
meat and their fins. Not only that, but alert and focused, because if we allowed the into this state of tonic immobility, or pain-free
some sharks were being caught on lines sharks to dominate us it could increase their paralysis, that enables divers to remove hooks
and escaping, leaving large hooks in their curiosity and lead eventually to a painful bite. from their mouths without endangering
mouths. We decided to do something. We let each other know which sharks were either the shark or themselves.
Over the roar of the outboard motor, more assertive, and when one got too close In a fluid motion, Martijn removed the
we delegated the roles: Martijn, the most we gently guided it away by pushing its snout. offending hook and passed the jagged piece
experienced diver, would take the lead, Then we saw a glint in the mouth of one of steel to me. He then removed his hand
while Stefano and I, cameras in hand, of the larger individuals – this was what and the shark stirred and swam away, as if
would act as look-outs – the risks posed we had come for. Martijn had removed revived from its slumber. It was only a small
by sharks are often overstated, but we hooks from sharks’ mouths during several victory, but it was a victory nonetheless. We
still had to be careful. winters in South Africa, where it is also a returned to the boat and raised a beer to each
We came to a halt 5km from other in quiet satisfaction as the
the north coast of Pico, and “HE POSITIONED HIMSELF IN lights of the island began to
Chris Vyvyan-Robinson chum, made from diluted tuna PLACED HIS HAND ON ITS SNOUT towards Madalena harbour.
flicker on to guide us back
Martijn began to pour the
FRONT OF THE BLUE SHARK,
blood, into the ocean. The
O Do you have a tale that you would like to
sharks that cruised these waters
share? Please email a synopsis of your idea
AND TURNED IT UPSIDE DOWN.”
would eventually sense the
to wildlifemagazine@immediate.co.uk
106 BBC Wildlife June 2018