Specimen of Odontaspis ferox
The Government of the Azores is investigating a possible environmental crime related to the violent death of a shark in Rabo de Peixe, following complaints from citizens and involvement with the Public Ministry.
Following the release of a video showing the port of Rabo de Peixe, in São Miguel, the Azorean executive confirmed, this Thursday, that an investigation process is underway for possible criminal offenses of an environmental nature.
The Government of the Azores said, this Thursday, that an investigation process is underway regarding “possible criminal offense” of an environmental nature in the case of the dead shark in the parish of Rabo de Peixe.
The shark in question is of the species Odontaspis feroxa rare shark, little studied in the archipelago and associated with deep waters, whose intentional capture is prohibited.
Sharks of this genus are covered by European and national legislation, which prohibits intentional capture and requires its return to the sea when they are accidentally captured.
In response to a request from the sole deputy of PAN/Açores, Pedro Nevesthe Azorean executive says that, “considering the facts contained in the video released, an ongoing investigation process regarding possible criminal offenses of an environmental nature”.
“The Regional Environmental Superintendency continues to monitor the development of the process and, if facts that are subject to administrative classification within the scope of its competences are discovered, the steps considered necessary will be initiated”, the response to the deputy is safeguarded.
According to the Azorean executive, confirmation of the species in question “is relevant to assess the possible inclusion within the scope of the CITES Convention or other protection status”, as well as to “determine the possible intervention of the Regional Environmental Inspection in the field of nature conservation and biodiversity protection”.
Following the shark’s death, two complaints of citizens with the Regional Environmental Superintendency, which “did not contain additional concrete elements”, having carried out the respective registration and preliminary analysis of the available information.
The Regional Environmental Inspection says that the Nature and Environment Protection Service (SEPNA) of the Republican National Guard (GNR) “registered the incident relating to the facts contained in the video released on April 29”.
Given the powers of that entity as a criminal police body, “the investigative measures relating to the events contained in the recording were carried out by the GNR”.
On April 30th, PAN/Açores expressed “vehemently repudiate” for the “violent death” of the shark. The NGO has meanwhile reported the case to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the organization announced.
