Thresher Shark In Newport Beach Euthanized Due To Injuries

NEWPORT BEACH, CA —Last week, a small thresher shark washed ashore near the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach. Lifeguards closed the water in the area to swimmers and monitored the shark’s activity.

"The shark made no effort to swim back to deeper water and continued to display behavior consistent with injury or illness," according to city spokesperson John Pope.

A lifeguard wrangled the shark to shore with their bare hands. Then, Newport Beach Animal Control was called to assist on what to do next.

An Animal Control officer agreed that the behavior of the shark, along with visible injuries, indicated that it was in grave condition and would not survive if returned to the water, Pope says.

The decision was made to remove the shark from the water and euthanize it.

The shark was then transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries Branch and examined by a Senior Fish Pathologist.

"The pathologist determined that the shark had suffered a massive intracranial hemorrhage along with numerous abrasions and lacerations on the eyes, head, flanks, and fins," Pope reported.

It is likely the shark suffered the injuries from being caught in a commercial fishing net, experts believe. Thresher sharks can sustain severe lesions from fishing nets, and when hauled onto a boat deck in the net.

"When injured ocean wildlife is found on Newport’s beaches, City staff will either leave the animal undisturbed until it returns to the ocean, or assist the animal while maintaining public safety," Pope explained. "This thresher shark was humanely euthanized to reduce suffering, based on severe injuries for which there was no potential for recovery."

This article originally appeared on the Newport Beach-Corona Del Mar Patch