Fewer sharks in Jamaican waters

Despite two suspected fatal shark attacks off the coast of Trelawny in the last two years, principal director of the National Fisheries Authority’s (NFA) Capture Fisheries Division, Stephen Smikle, says there are fewer sharks in Jamaica’s waters.

“We don't have an increase in infestation. In fact, it's quite the opposite. There are far less sharks today. Just even being in the water, I see far less sharks today than what was there 20 years ago,” he said. The Trelawny coastline, which is a familiar route for cruise ships, is long believed to attract sharks. But Smikle dismissed those claims. 

“My understanding of sharks is that they don't necessarily follow ships. They don't. What sharks do is that if there is, let's say, you know, fish being killed, or if there's blood in the water, or, you know, any increased signals, meaning vibrations from dead, you know fish that have just been killed dolphins or by even bigger fish, they will go for that," he said. 

In 2024, a 16-year-old William Knibb Memorial High School student Jahmaree Reid perished at sea in what was believed to be a shark attack. After not returning from a trip at sea, his bicycle and clothes were later found along the shoreline. A subsequent search led to the shocking discovery of an arm floating in the water. His headless body was later found. A veteran fisherman said the remains and jagged wounds indicated Jahmaree had died in a shark attack. Earlier this year, the bags and clothing of Trelawny fisherman Dennis Clarke, 58, were discovered along the coast. This time, however, no trace has been found of Clarke, with his family and fellow fisherfolk believing he was another shark attack victim.

Fritz Christie, president of the Trelawny Fishermen’s Association, told THE WEEKEND STAR that attacks on fishers have occurred occasionally. One fisherman and lifeguard recounted a frightening encounter in waters near where Clarke was last seen.

“I saw a big parrot [fish] and dive down past the reef about 35 feet deep. Mi shoot the fish and the gill damage my spear and buss it off,” he said. Having missed out on adding to his catch, he told THE WEEKEND STAR that he began ascending when an unfamiliar shadow appeared overhead.

“It just start head to me, straight to me, and it’s good mi never have the big snapper because the shark just a head to me and naa back down. Mi a flash off and a push the gun after him. Remember the spear bruk off so I can’t jook him,” he said.

Carrying roughly seven pounds of fish, he said fear quickly set in, but his focus remained on survival.

“Mi affi a swim backwards to the reef so mi can defend myself and mi a swim backwards and him bite off a mi fin, but mi fan him off and get over the reef,” he said.

He reasoned that most times, sharks do not attack fishermen; they actually go after the fish that they carry. 

“So if we leave the fish, them go just leave wi alone and go after the fish.” Smikle agreed. 

“So if you have a catch on you, keep it on a string some distance away from your body, and so if the shark goes after the fish, you know, they'll be striking away from your body,” he said.

CEO of the NFA, Dr Gavin Bellamy, said changes in fishing methods may increase interactions between fishers and sharks.

“There were many more sharks in our waters. It's the fishing techniques that are being used now that are putting the fishers into intimate contact with sharks. The fishers are now playing in the sharks' backyard more often,” he said.

“We didn't have as many divers, people diving and spearfishing as we have now. You had more people using nets and lines, etc. and traps and being in boats. You have an influx of, or an increase, an exponential increase in people diving, spearfishing," he added.

Bellamy urged fishers to practise safe fishing methods and place personal safety above their catch.