Giant Bigeye Shark Strands on Beach

An adult female bigeye shark, which can grow up to 14 feet (4.2 meters) in length, was found stranded and dead on the coast of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Personnel arrived at the scene to dispose of the carcass and collect biological samples. Subsequent necropsy results revealed lacerations on the shark’s tail and puncture wounds caused by fishing gear; the exact cause of death requires further investigation. The smooth-nosed hammerhead shark is classified as an endangered marine species by the IUCN. Marine researchers analyze that accidental entanglement in fishing gear is merely one contributing factor; coastal sewage discharge, plastic pollution, habitat destruction, and the accumulation of toxins through the food chain are all continuously shrinking the smooth-nosed hammerhead shark’s habitat.