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Shark hunting became one of the most popular touristic leisures in Portugal. Every year about 15 thousand tons of these sea monsters are getting caught in this country. The most popular among the fishermen is the blue shark that reaches more than four meters in length. It is a great honor to catch this animal. Most of the tourists are taking pictures with the trophy and after that usually let the animal back into the sea.
Only in the southern province Algarve, each month about a hundred tons of shark meat is being produced. At that only the tourists catch sharks intentionally. The fishing boats are pulling them out occasionally among with the rest of the catch and do not let them back into the sea, selling them in the port. As the result, the sharks are available on the market along with the other catch. The double hunting - commercial and sportive - has led to the sharp increase of the amount of the shark catch. In the meantime, the total catch of the sea inhabitants in Portugal decreases already for the last several dozens of years. |
