Fifteen-year-old Finn Holland has a passion for animals. When he discovered a shark stranded on the shore near his home in Maces Bay, Southern New Brunswick, he felt compelled to assist. On a Saturday evening, Finn and his family drove their side-by-side vehicle to the beach in Maces Bay, just southwest of Saint John, where they found the injured shark. Initially appearing lifeless, Finn noticed slight movements.
Despite the shark measuring around two meters in length and weighing approximately 70 kilograms, Finn decided to act. With caution, he pulled the shark by its tail back into the ocean, where it swam away. Identified as a porbeagle shark, the encounter left Finn amazed.
Finn’s mother, Jill Holland, expressed pride in her son’s spontaneous act of kindness, noting that his instinct to help without hesitation was typical of him. The family, residing in Maces Bay for over a decade, had never encountered sharks in the area before.
According to shark expert Neil Hammerschlag, such sightings are uncommon, especially in natural settings without direct human involvement like fishing. The porbeagle shark’s ability to regulate its body temperature allows it to navigate cooler waters in Atlantic Canada and New England. However, finding one in shallow waters like Maces Bay suggests the shark may have been distressed, possibly due to illness or previous entanglement with fishing gear.
Hammerschlag highlighted the declining population of porbeagle sharks due to overfishing, making such encounters even rarer. Despite the species being declared endangered in the Atlantic Ocean in 2004, the federal government has not taken official action.
Finn, overwhelmed by the community’s positive response to his shark rescue, emphasized the significance of his actions, conveying a sense of fulfillment from helping the animal without expecting gratitude.