Tobago legislators revoke reward for capture of bull shark that attacked British visitor

SCARBOROUGH, Tobago, CMC – The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has revoked a decision to offer TT$10,000 to registered fishermen who are able to capture the bull shark that severely injured British visitor, Peter Smith on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference late on Saturday night, THA Chief Secretary,  Farley Augustine told reporters that there was “some confusion” regarding the reward.

“During the course of the day a bounty went out offering TT$10,000 for registered fishers who can help us capture the bull shark. In some jurisdictions they refer to it as rescuing the bull shark, meaning being able to remove it from where it can cause harm to individuals to put it in a place where it can't cause harm to individuals.

“So because there is some much confusion over the bounty that is out, I have asked for the advertisement to be retracted, effective immediately, and I have asked that the fishers work along with the Coast Guard, work along with the divers and other stakeholders to expertly man the area,” Augustine told reporters.

Augustine said the Department of Marine Resources will continue to monitor the space, saying “we are monitoring from marine resources along the affected areas and that will continue across the weekend and into the foreseeable future so as to ensure that we can treat with the matter in the most responsible manner possible”.

Smith has since undergone multiple surgeries at the Scarborough General Hospital since Friday and is reported to be in a stable condition. He has also undergone a blood transfusion as doctors saved his limbs and his wounds were closed and treated.

Smith sustained severe injuries to his left hand, left thigh, and stomach after a bull shark attacked him while he was bathing at Courland Bay, also known as Turtle Beach.

Augustine said he has been in touch with the British High Commission regarding the incident that occurred at 9.15 a.m. (local time) 10 meters away from the shore.

'We are working together to ensure that Mr Smith comes out of this safely and be able to return home from Tobago and be able to continue with his life as far as is possible,” he added.

He gave the size of the shark as eight to 10 feet in length and two feet in width.

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