News

Fishermen and divers urged to be cautious

September 26, 2018 10:01 pm

Fishermen and divers are urged to be extra cautious out at sea, especially now because it is the shark breeding season.

The advice comes in light of an incident over the weekend whereby a man was bitten by a shark while diving with others in Macuata, Vanua Levu.

Director Fisheries, Aisake Batibasaga says this is the time when large breeding females can be very aggressive.

Article continues after advertisement

In doing so, Batibasaga says the female shark tend to target fishermen in the water, particularly if they are carrying fish or spearfishing.

Fishermen and divers are urged not to dive and spearfish during the night as the risk of a shark attack increases compared to the day time.

Batibasaga adds if spearfishing is done on the reef for a long duration from low tide to high tide, the risk of a shark attack also increases as sharks come into the reef to feed.

He warns, sharks are dangerous during their breeding season.