Jerusalem, 24 November, 2025 (TPS-IL) — A pregnant blacktip shark was found dead at Beit Yanai Beach National Park after apparently being caught in a fishing net, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority reported on Monday. The discovery was made by a hiker who notified the Authority’s hotline.
According to the Authority, the adult female shark, measuring 1.8 meters, had washed ashore with visible injuries consistent with entanglement in fishing gear. It was carrying seven fetuses, all of which did not survive.
“Females give birth in June–August, and the pregnancy lasts about 10–12 months,” said Dr. Aviad Sheinin, head of the University of Haifa’s Maurice Kahn Marine Research Station, where the remains were taken for further analysis. “There was a deep mark left by fishing line around the shark’s head, probably from a fishing net, and signs of struggle were visible that left deep blood vessels in the muscle.”
Dr. Danny Morik, head of the station’s marine pathology department, noted, “In addition to the external signs, bleeding was seen in the shark’s heart muscle, which usually indicates acute stress as a result of capture.”
The Nature and Parks Authority reminded the public that blacktip sharks are endangered and protected under Israeli law. “It is forbidden to harm, harass, or feed this species,” the Authority stated. “Anyone who does so risks criminal punishment.”
Blacktip sharks typically live 10–12 years.
The peak season for blacktips in Israeli waters is December–March, when sea temperatures drop and Mediterranean currents shift. They often gather near Hadera, where warmer waters from a power plant’s outflow attract schools of fish, creating ideal feeding conditions.
In December 2024, a pregnant fin shark washed ashore lifeless on an Israeli beach near the Hadera power station. An autopsy revealed two fishing hooks, each seven centimeters long, found in the shark’s stomach along with fresh bait. One of the hooks penetrated the stomach wall, causing internal damage. Efforts to save the seven unborn pups were unsuccessful.
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