Fifteen-year-old Finn Holland has a deep passion for animals. When he learned that a shark had washed ashore near his home in Maces Bay, a coastal community in southern New Brunswick, he felt compelled to assist. Over the weekend, Finn, accompanied by his family, drove their off-road vehicle down their lengthy driveway to reach the beach at Maces Bay, located southwest of Saint John.
Upon arriving, Finn noticed the shark appeared injured and almost lifeless. Despite his initial hesitation due to its size – measuring about two meters in length and weighing around 70 kilograms – Finn decided to take action. With determination, he grabbed the shark’s tail and guided it back into the water, where it quickly swam away. The rescued shark was later identified as a porbeagle shark.
Finn described the experience as fascinating and admitted feeling stunned by the encounter. His mother, Jill Holland, shared that Finn’s impromptu rescue mission did not come as a surprise to her, as he is known for his spontaneous acts of kindness without hesitation or second thoughts.
Having lived in the area for over a decade, the Holland family had never encountered sharks nearby. Shark expert Neil Hammerschlag affirmed the rarity of such sightings in natural environments, especially without human interference like fishing. He emphasized that spotting a porbeagle shark in the region was exceptional and noteworthy.
Hammerschlag explained that porbeagles have a unique ability to regulate their body temperature, allowing them to navigate the colder waters of Atlantic Canada and New England. However, the shark’s presence in shallow waters raised concerns, suggesting possible distress or previous entanglement in fishing gear.
The declining population of porbeagle sharks, primarily due to overfishing, adds to the rarity of such encounters. Despite being declared endangered in the Atlantic Ocean by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada in 2004, the federal government has not taken formal protective measures.
Finn expressed gratitude for the community’s overwhelming support following his shark rescue. He reflected on the experience, noting the unspoken gratitude felt from animals and the sense of doing the right thing without expecting direct acknowledgment.