Fifteen-year-old Finn Holland, a passionate animal lover, took immediate action when he discovered a stranded shark near his home in Maces Bay, New Brunswick. On a Saturday evening, Finn and his family drove down to the beach at Maces Bay, where they found the shark looking injured and motionless. Despite initial hesitation due to its size and weight, Finn identified the shark as a two-meter, 70-kilogram porbeagle and decided to help it back into the water.
After successfully guiding the shark back to the ocean, Finn expressed his fascination with the experience. His mother, Jill Holland, mentioned that Finn’s selfless act didn’t come as a surprise, highlighting his natural inclination to help without hesitation.
Although shark sightings in the area are rare, shark expert Neil Hammerschlag explained that porbeagles have the ability to regulate their body temperature, allowing them to venture into cooler waters like those in Atlantic Canada. However, the shark’s presence in shallow waters raised concerns of potential distress, possibly due to illness or previous interaction with fishing gear.
Hammerschlag emphasized the declining population of porbeagles due to overfishing, making encounters like this even more uncommon. Despite the endangered status of porbeagles in the Atlantic Ocean, the federal government has not taken official action.
Finn expressed gratitude for the community’s support following his shark rescue, reflecting on the sense of fulfillment gained from helping animals in need.