On Saturday morning, a hammerhead shark was found stranded on La Garita beach, located in the town of Arrieta (Haría), in the north of Lanzarote.
According to the Lanzarote Emergency Consortium, the Environment Department of the Island Council assumed responsibility for collecting the body and clarifying the causes of its stranding.
Previous Incidents and Local Observations
This event adds to other recent encounters with this species in the Canary Islands waters. On July 30, two young fisherwomen caught a hammerhead shark pup after it bit the hook during a fishing trip off the coast of Arrieta.
In a gesture aimed at preserving local marine life, they recorded a video of the moment and immediately released the shark to ensure its survivalDays earlier, specifically last Tuesday, a sailing fisherman spotted another similar specimen near the coast of Arrecife. These sightings reflect the constant presence of the hammerhead shark in the islands
A vulnerable species
The hammerhead shark is recognized for its "T"-shaped skull. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this species is classified as vulnerable due to various environmental and human factors.
Although they usually inhabit tropical and subtropical waters, it is not uncommon to find juvenile specimens in the marine areas around the Canary Islands. This may be linked to their natural migratory patterns as well as the prevailing ocean currents that affect the archipelago.
In terms of size, these sharks can reach up to five meters; however, it is common to observe individuals measuring approximately three meters