A pregnant dusky shark was found dead Monday near the Hadera power station, where dozens of sharks have gathered in recent months. The shark was wedged in the rocks of the jetty near the warm-water outflow.
Kochav Or Efrat, who spotted the shark, reported the finding to the Sharks in Israel Association. An examination found that the shark was hooked on a large fishing hook attached to a metal cable and a very thick rope measuring hundreds of meters. According to shore anglers, the shark had apparently been there since at least the previous day. The fishing gear suggests deliberate shark fishing from a boat or buoy.
Bar Faran, CEO of the Sharks in Israel Association, and Dr. Leigh Livne of the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station removed the shark from the water and documented the fishing equipment.
The Sharks in Israel Association said the fishing was not accidental and was carried out deliberately to harm sharks in the warm-water area. “To protect the sea, fishermen, researchers and conservation professionals must work together to enable use that does not harm the marine environment,” the association said.
With assistance from the Marine Unit of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, the shark was taken to the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station for sampling and to determine its reproductive status.
Each year, between November and May, dozens of sharks gather in the shallow waters near the Orot Rabin power station in Hadera. The reasons for the phenomenon are not fully understood, but a widely held hypothesis is that the warm water discharged from the power station attracts them.