Whoa! Boat Captain Pulls Rusty Hook from Mouth of 7-Ft Long Shark

By  Amanda Froelich Truth Theory

Meet Elliot Grant Sudal, a modern-day hero who recently removed a hook from a 7-foot-long shark. In addition to working as a captain in Florida, the 29-year-old tags sharks for the NOAA Apex predator tagging program. As GoodNewsNetwork reports, the organization’s work is vital, as it monitors and tracks shark migration routes, reproduction, and growth patterns.

While working off Sanibel Island last month, Sudal was preparing to tag a 7-foot-long tiger shark when he noticed a wire hook protruding from its mouth. An animal lover and a seaman, he took the time to carefully remove the intrusive object with plyers.

As InsiderEdition reports (below), only experienced anglers should attempt such a maneuver. Thanks to his activism, the tiger shark is now hook-free and is being monitored by NOAA.

Watch the video below:

Due to Hollywood’s unfair portrayal of sharks, most people run the other direction when they see one. However, there are actually many reasons to respect — not fear — sharks. A few follow:

1) Far more sharks are killed than humans each year

Every year, between 26 and 73 million sharks are traded in markets around the world. Some people, particularly in Asia, believe there are medicinal benefits to consuming shark fin soup. As a result, millions of the beasts are illegally hunted then sold on the black market — even in countries where the “delicacy” is banned.

2) Shark attacks are rare

Contrary to what you might learn from movies like Jaws or The Shallows, shark attacks are extremely rare. In fact, your chances of being the victim of an unprovoked shark encounter are lower than your chances of being struck by lightning, injured in a hunting accident, or even attacked by a domestic dog.

3) King of the food chain

As the Smithsonian points out, sharks have six highly refined senses: smell, touch, hearing, taste, sight, and electromagnetism. Together, these senses — combined with a sleek, torpedo-shaped body — make sharks deadly hunters. This is a reason to respect the marine animals — not demonize them.

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