Fifteen-year-old Finn Holland, a resident of Maces Bay in southern New Brunswick, has a passion for animals. When he discovered a stranded shark on the shore near his home, he felt compelled to assist. With his family’s support, Finn took action on Saturday evening by guiding the shark back into the ocean.
Initially, Finn was hesitant to approach the shark due to its size, measuring around two meters in length and weighing approximately 70 kilograms. The shark was later identified as a porbeagle shark, a rare species in the area. Despite his initial reservations, Finn found the experience fascinating.
Finn’s mother, Jill Holland, expressed her lack of surprise at her son’s spontaneous act of kindness towards the shark. Living in the community for over a decade, the Hollands had never encountered sharks in the area before. According to shark expert Neil Hammerschlag, such sightings are indeed uncommon in natural environments without human intervention.
Porbeagle sharks possess a unique ability to regulate their body temperature, allowing them to thrive in cooler waters like those of Atlantic Canada and New England. However, the presence of the shark in shallow waters raised concerns, suggesting the possibility of distress or previous interaction with fishing gear.
Hammerschlag highlighted the declining population of porbeagle sharks due to overfishing, making encounters like Finn’s even more noteworthy. Despite the species being declared endangered in the Atlantic Ocean in 2004, the federal government has not taken official action to protect them.
Finn’s act of compassion towards the shark has garnered significant support within his community. Reflecting on the experience, Finn emphasized the importance of following one’s instincts to do what is right for animals, even if they cannot express gratitude in words.
