This porbeagle shark (pictured) became trapped in a piece of plastic packaging, leaving it with deep cuts
It is a shocking illustration of the damage that plastic waste does to the creatures living in our oceans.
This porbeagle shark became trapped in a piece of plastic packaging, leaving it with deep cuts to its belly and fins.
Fortunately, it was spotted off the coast of Cornwall by a group of fishermen, who hauled the 80lb shark on to their boat and cut away the plastic strap before releasing it back into the sea.
But marine rescue teams say that every week they see animals trapped in large pieces of plastic. Sharks cannot swim backwards so are unable to free themselves when they encounter the plastic waste.
As they swim through it, the plastic forms a collar around their body, which is not painful at first. But as they grow, the plastic cuts into their flesh, causing horrific wounds. The Daily Mail is at the forefront of campaigns to stop plastic pollution poisoning our environment.
The sharks swim through it, the plastic forms a collar around their body, which is not painful at first. But as they grow, the plastic cuts into their flesh
The 5ft porbeagle was spotted by friends out shark fishing with St Ives Fishing Trips close to Land’s End on Wednesday.
Sam Narbett, owner of St Ives Fishing Trips, said: ‘We could see the plastic right around the fish, right under its skin and right around its gills. It was like a box strap – the tough plastic you get wrapped around pallets.
‘That fish probably would have died because it would have got infected eventually.’