Rare Azores Shark Killed in Harbor: Why This Matters for Portugal's Marine Future

The Azores Regional Fisheries Inspectorate is investigating the killing of a rare deep-water shark in Rabo de Peixe, São Miguel Island, after video footage showed the animal being dragged across rocks and beaten to death in the fishing harbor at the end of April. Authorities have confirmed the act constitutes a crime under Portugal's marine conservation framework, given the species cannot be legally caught in the archipelago.

Why This Matters:

• The shark was an Odontaspis ferox (smalltooth sand tiger), classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature — not a mako as initially reported.

• Only 18 documented sightings of this species occurred in the Azores between 1991 and 2018.

• Intentional capture is prohibited under EU and Portugal law; accidental catches must be released unharmed.

• Multiple complaints have been filed with the Portugal Public Prosecutor's Office by animal welfare organizations demanding full accountability.

What Species Was Killed — And Why That Matters

Marine biologist Beatriz Silva from the Elasmobase project — which studies sharks, rays, and skates across the Azores — confirmed the victim was an Odontaspis ferox, a smalltooth sand tiger shark. This is a demersal species, meaning it typically inhabits the ocean floor along continental shelves and island slopes at significant depths, only occasionally venturing into shallow coastal waters.

The species is considered exceptionally rare in Azorean waters. From 1991 through 2018, researchers documented just 18 encounters, most linked to accidental bycatch or interactions with fishing gear. Its biology remains poorly understood, and scientists lack comprehensive data on its population status, reproduction rates, and habitat use in the region.

Globally, the IUCN Red List classifies Odontaspis ferox as vulnerable, reflecting population declines driven primarily by commercial fishing pressure. In European and Mediterranean waters, the threat level escalates to "critically endangered." Related species within the Carcharias and Odontaspis genera face similar or worse conservation outlooks — some are data-deficient, meaning scientists don't even know enough to assess their survival prospects.

These sharks share a critical biological vulnerability: extremely slow growth rates and very low reproductive output. Female smalltooth sand tigers produce few offspring over long intervals, rendering populations incapable of bouncing back quickly from fishing pressure, accidental kills, or targeted violence. This makes every individual loss — especially of mature breeding adults — a measurable blow to long-term survival.

Legal Framework: Capture Is Prohibited, Release Is Mandatory

Under Portugal's Decree-Law 38/2021 and EU fisheries regulations, both Carcharias and Odontaspis species benefit from legal protection. Intentional capture is banned. If a shark from these genera is caught accidentally in nets, longlines, or trawls, fishers are legally required to release it alive into its natural habitat.

The smalltooth sand tiger is not classified as a "companion animal" under Portuguese criminal statutes — a category that includes dogs, cats, and other pets kept for human companionship. As a result, Article 387 of the Portugal Criminal Code, which criminalizes abuse of companion animals with penalties of up to two years imprisonment, does not automatically apply.

However, killing or retaining a protected marine species still violates fisheries and conservation law. Authorities in the Azores — including the Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies, the GNR's SEPNA environmental unit, and the Ribeira Grande Municipal Council — have opened an investigation. If charges proceed, violators could face administrative fines, fishing license suspensions, or criminal penalties under environmental protection statutes.

Beatriz Silva emphasized the legal ambiguity: "In practice in Portugal, killing a shark is not automatically illegal — but it can be if it is a protected species, violates fishing rules, or fails to respect mandatory release obligations." She urged witnesses of similar incidents to report them to the Maritime Police, the National Maritime Authority, or regional fisheries inspectors.

What This Means for Residents and Coastal Communities

The Rabo de Peixe incident has sparked outrage among conservation groups, scientists, and segments of the public. Organizations including PAN/Azores and the NGO Animal filed formal complaints with the Public Prosecutor's Office, demanding rigorous investigation and prosecution.

But beyond the immediate legal consequences, the case exposes a dangerous disconnect between coastal communities and the marine ecosystems they depend on. Silva noted that while isolated killings won't collapse the food web, they reflect a broader cultural problem: "Many sharks are still viewed with fear, contempt, or ignorance, rather than understood as wild animals essential to marine balance."

The Azores' economy is tightly bound to the sea. Small fishing villages like Rabo de Peixe rely heavily on marine resources, and European studies highlight that local dependence on fisheries can be particularly high in specific Azorean communities. Yet this dependence makes conservation even more urgent: sharks regulate prey populations, remove weak or sick individuals, and stabilize trophic webs. Their decline triggers cascading ecological disruptions — including reduced fish stocks that ultimately hurt fishers.

In 2024, the Azores Government approved one of the largest marine protected area networks in the North Atlantic (RAMPA), covering thousands of square kilometers. The region has also been integrated into the IUCN's Important Shark and Ray Areas network, recognizing São Miguel and surrounding waters as critical habitat for elasmobranch species. Similarly, Spain has expanded marine protections to cover 17,000 km² of critical habitats, while Portugal continues expanding its MPA network with backing from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund to support sustainable fishing transitions.

Elasmobase, which combines research, citizen science, and outreach, has been collecting data on shark and ray sightings with help from divers, boat operators, and residents. Silva stressed the need for active harbor-based education programs: "Simple identification materials, safe handling and release training, school sessions, and public campaigns that replace fear with knowledge. The message must be clear: a shark is not an enemy; it is a functional piece of the ocean that fishing communities themselves depend on."

Ecological Impact: Why Every Shark Counts

The smalltooth sand tiger's demersal lifestyle and rarity make it an especially sensitive indicator species. As a top predator, it likely feeds on mid-sized fish, squid, and benthic organisms, exerting top-down control on these populations.

The removal of apex predators from marine ecosystems has well-documented consequences. Studies show that shark declines can trigger mesopredator release — a phenomenon where mid-level predators proliferate unchecked, overconsuming smaller fish and invertebrates. This cascade can degrade kelp forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, reducing biodiversity and collapsing fisheries productivity.

In the Azores, a volcanic oceanic archipelago with high elasmobranch diversity, such disruptions could reverberate through the entire marine food web. Silva warned: "The decline of sharks can trigger ecological imbalances, biodiversity loss, and indirect impacts on fishery resources. This case should not be treated as 'just one dead shark.' It must be seen as an alarm: if we want to continue living off the sea, we need to learn to respect the animals that keep that sea functional and healthy."

Research from 1996 to 2018 — combining sighting records and interviews with local fishers — underscored the critical need for more biological data on Odontaspis ferox to inform management guidelines. With so few encounters documented, scientists cannot reliably estimate population trends, reproductive success, or resilience to anthropogenic threats.

What Needs to Happen Next

Elasmobase and other conservation voices are calling for clear protocols to handle interactions between humans and sharks: whom to contact, how to act when a shark is injured or trapped in a harbor, how to avoid additional suffering, and how to collect scientifically useful data.

Silva insisted that education must be practical, close to communities, and participatory: "It's not enough to say sharks are important. We must explain why, showcase local species, engage fishers, schools, maritime operators, port authorities, and coastal communities."

The case has also reignited debate over extending legal animal welfare protections beyond companion animals to cover all sentient wildlife. In April 2026, the European Parliament approved a draft EU Companion Animal Protection Law, mandating microchipping and registration of all dogs and cats and banning certain breeding practices. Advocates hope similar frameworks could eventually apply to marine fauna.

For now, the investigation continues. The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries, the GNR, and municipal authorities in Ribeira Grande are working to identify those responsible for the killing. Whether charges will result in meaningful penalties depends on how prosecutors interpret the intersection of fisheries law, conservation statutes, and animal welfare provisions.

Silva's final message was unequivocal: "Conservation efforts are very important, but if there is no social concern and involvement, fostered by science, the efforts may not be enough — and that has to change."