24 Sharks Wash Ashore on Belgian Coast in Bycatch Incident
At least 24 spotted smooth sharks have washed ashore on the Belgian coast between Koksijde and De Panne, prompting concerns about industrial fishing practices in the North Sea. Marine experts believe the sharks, measuring between 75 centimeters and one meter in length, were caught as bycatch by fishing vessels and thrown back overboard — a practice known as discarding that often proves fatal for the animals.
Discovery and Cleanup
A walker first discovered six dead spotted smooth sharks on the evening of 28 May on the beach between Sint-Idesbald and Ster der Zee, describing the find as a “lugubere vondst” (gruesome find) according to VRT NWS. The walker alerted the municipality of Koksijde, prompting a cleanup operation the following morning.
On 29 May, a municipal environmental worker from Koksijde patrolled the coastline and collected a total of 24 dead spotted smooth sharks. Due to warm weather conditions, the carcasses risked decomposition and potential nuisance on the popular tourist beaches, necessitating swift removal. Most of the sharks were sent to the vilbeluik (cadaver disposal service), while a few were preserved for scientific study.
Expert Analysis: Bycatch the Likely Cause
Joanna Desmidt, a researcher at ILVO (Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Research), told VRT NWS that the sharks appeared completely intact with no visible bite marks or injuries, ruling out predation as a cause of death.
“I have also seen several photos and the animals look completely intact. We see no clear injuries indicating bite marks. Presumably the sharks were thrown back as bycatch from fishing,” Desmidt said. She noted that the same phenomenon occurred just days earlier in Wales, where smooth sharks also washed ashore.
Kelle Moreau, a marine biologist at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (KBIN), echoed this assessment. “We also assume it is bycatch, that the animals were caught and thrown back and did not survive that process,” Moreau said. However, he added that researchers want to study the preserved specimens further to rule out other potential factors, such as the recent warm weather.
A Broader Pattern Across the North Sea
The Belgian stranding follows a strikingly similar incident in Wales just days earlier. Between 24 and 26 May, hundreds of dead catsharks (also known as dogfish) washed up on Pembrey Beach in Carmarthenshire and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire. The BBC News reported that Natural Resources Wales (NRW) stated the fish appeared to be “discarded or part of a lost catch” linked to fishing bycatch.
ILVO’s Desmidt explicitly connected the two events, noting that the same phenomenon occurred in Wales over the previous weekend. This suggests a broader pattern of discarding practices affecting shark populations across the wider North Sea and Celtic Sea regions.
The Spotted Smooth Shark: A Common but Vulnerable Species
The spotted smooth shark (Mustelus asterias), also known as the starry smooth-hound, is a bottom-dwelling species native to the North Sea. It is harmless to humans, with flat, plate-like teeth adapted for crushing crustaceans rather than hunting large prey. While not classified as endangered, the species is considered vulnerable due to its slow growth, late maturity, and low reproductive rates.
Desmidt reassured the public that the species is common in Belgian waters. “We have received some reports from people who are worried. That is certainly not necessary, because the spotted smooth shark is common here,” she said.
Ongoing Research and Conservation Efforts
Scientists are actively working to better understand and protect North Sea shark populations. In October 2025, VLIZ (Flanders Marine Institute) and ILVO launched an intensified research program using acoustic telemetry to track sharks in the Belgian North Sea. As reported by VRT NWS, researchers have already tagged 96 spotted smooth sharks and 44 small-spotted catsharks with transmitters to map migration routes, habitat preferences, and seasonal patterns.
The preserved specimens from this stranding will be studied by KBIN, potentially providing valuable data on population health, diet, and causes of death.
Regulatory Questions Remain
Despite the EU Landing Obligation under the Common Fisheries Policy — which requires that catches of regulated species be landed and counted against quotas — discarding of non-commercial species like small sharks appears to continue. The simultaneous incidents in Belgium and Wales highlight a systemic issue with fishing bycatch of elasmobranchs, raising questions about enforcement and compliance.
What to Watch For
ILVO has warned that more strandings may be reported in the coming days, as warm weather draws more beachgoers to the coast. The incident serves as a visible reminder of the impact of industrial fishing on marine ecosystems and may prompt renewed scrutiny of discarding practices in the North Sea.
Researchers remain cautious about drawing definitive conclusions until their analysis is complete. As Kelle Moreau noted, “You never know if something else is going on, maybe the warm weather has something to do with it. It’s unlikely, but still, we want to study it further.”