Experts from the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute confirmed that the almost 200kg fish which stranded on a Nha Trang beach in central Khanh Hoa province on Dec 26 is a member of the shark family and this is the first time that a shark has been found in the area.

According to the experts, the long-tailed shark, which was stranded into the beach in front of Phu Dong Park in Nha Trang City, is scientifically termed Common Thiesher Shark Alopias Sp.

Chu Anh Khanh, from the institute, said that when he arrived at the beach around 4.30pm shortly after being alerted by locals, the fish was still alive but quite frail with several wounds on its body. It was then pulled ashore by several locals and tourists.

The fish is a male, which is over 2m long and weighs some 180kg. Its body measures some 60-70cm in diameter.

“I told the institute leaders that if the fish died, I would take it to the institute, where its body will serve as a specimen. However, several foreign tourists insisted that the fish be released back into the sea as it was still alive,” Khanh added.

“But when released into the sea, the critically wounded shark was battered by large waves several times before it disappeared altogether. It’s highly likely that the fish is dead,” he noted.

According to the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute, the long-tailed shark typically inhabits the area some 60-90km from shore and 366m beneath the sea surface. The fish has a small snout and usually preys on schools of small fish.

The fish is highly valued by commercial fishers for its meat, fins, hide, and liver oil and is also a favorite choice among recreational anglers. The species has a low rate of reproduction and cannot withstand heavy fishing pressure for long.

With commercial exploitation rampant in many parts of the world, the species, which poses little danger to humans due to its relatively small teeth and timid disposition, has been ranked as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).