Outrage Over Limassol Shark Fishing Video

A video posted on Youtube.com by anonymous user MrLouca03 has raised outrage over the killing of a vulnerable species of shark called Alopias (Thresher shark) in Limassol waters. The shark was beaten to death with a hammer by two fishermen on a small fishing boat.

"They feel like courageous men when all they have done is lure an innocent animal out of its territory and brutally kill it when it is at its most vulnerable." said one environmentalist.

"Unbelievable. Do they see the pain in this animal's eyes when they hit them? Shame on them..." said another conservationist.

The shark is not a threat to humans, and conservationists from the Nireas Marine Research NGO are trying to get in touch with the fishermen to find out more details.

The video was posted on December 1, 2011 with background music that can only be described as the worst karaoke ever made of Billy Jean by Michael Jackson.  It has been shared on Facebook.com by a number of Limassol-based members- again to widespread outrage and disgust. The video has been removed from Youtube.com by the user who uploaded it since the time of writing this article, however it can be seen here on the Acting for Biodiversity website. Warning, it contains graphic and disturbing images.

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