Sharks attack and kill a Samoan fisherman in a Marine Reserve

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 16 AUGUST 2023: The incident where a Samoan fisherman was attacked and killed by sharks last Sunday, was at a Marine Reserve under the Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment (MNRE) where fishing is prohibited.

A Lano village resident said that several small sharks have often been sighted around their area and she believes this is because fishing has been prohibited from the marine reserve.

She also said that controlled fishing is sometimes allowed during special occasions such as hosting visitors and sometimes the fishermen brought back small sharks caught in their nets.

The young father was attack out in the sea as Samoa was celebrating Father’s Day last Sunday.

According to information received, a dead fish which is said to be a dolphin washed up on the beach at Asaga village late Sunday.

The villagers then pushed the decomposed dead fish back into the sea and it ended up at neighbouring Lano village.

Children admiring the dead dolphin on the beach. 

The deceased, whose family home was directly opposite from where the dead fish was washed up, could not stand the smell, and the deceased’s father instructed his sons to take the canoe and pull the fish further out to sea.

However, the deceased decided to go on his own and rather than taking the canoe, swam and pushed the fish out to sea.

Reports said he was enjoying a few beers with friends before he went out to sea.

Information said that people actually saw several sharks swimming towards the deceased and the dead fish and unsuccessfully called out to warn him.

Realising what was unfolding before them, three young men pulled out canoes and rowed out desperately to help the deceased who was already struggling to fighting off the sharks.

By the time they reached the deceased, it was too late and was already in bad shape according to information received by police.

Somehow, the dead fish ended back on land where the villagers built a fire and burnt the dead fish on the Lano beach.