A new sighting of a small shark on the shore of Siboney beach, very close to the city of Santiago de Cuba, once again draws attention to this popular seaside resort, just a few weeks after another specimen led to a temporary suspension of swimming in the area.
Aris Arias Batalla, provincial head of Operations and Rescue for Aquatic Safety in Santiago de Cuba, reported on Facebook about the new episode and explained that another specimen with similar characteristics was observed this Friday around 6:30 PM.
"New sighting of a small shark on the shores of Siboney beach," wrote the specialist, who tried to downplay the alarm that the appearance of these animals so close to the coast usually generates.
Arias explained that the presence of young specimens in shallow waters does not necessarily indicate an immediate danger.
According to the statement, young sharks and small sharks of different species can use coastal areas as a sort of natural "nursery," where they find food and some protection.
It also mentioned among the species present in Cuban waters the Antillean hammerhead shark and the sawfish, relatively small-sized animals.
However, in her publication, she did not confirm to which species the specimen seen now in Siboney belongs.
The head of Aquatic Security stressed that the matter must be handled with caution and without ignoring the warnings from lifeguards and other individuals responsible for monitoring the beach.
"The main risk now is not the little animal, but ignoring the warnings from the authorities and lifeguards," he noted.
Arias assured that underwater fishermen and local collaborators are keeping an eye on the area and, in a more informal tone, stated: "There’s no danger as long as mom or dad doesn't show up".
Arias Batalla also recalled that shark incidents are infrequent in Cuba and advocated for coexistence with these animals, although he emphasized that the key is to respect any temporary restrictions and the guidelines provided by lifeguards.
"The good news is that attacks on humans are extremely rare in Cuba; between 1749 and 2023, only 47 incidents were recorded throughout the archipelago. Studies show that bathers and small sharks often share the space without incidents," he emphasized.
The new sighting brings to mind what happened in July, when authorities temporarily suspended swimming at Siboney beach after a shark approximately two meters long was spotted swimming close to the shore.
On that occasion, witnesses believed that the animal might be injured or sick due to its behavior and its presence in shallow waters.
The incident also drew criticism because some swimmers claimed that the animal had been spotted before any measures were taken.
A resident of Santiago recounted that her daughters were swimming very close to the spot where the shark appeared and questioned why there were no danger warnings or restrictions at that time.
Two days after the closure, Siboney was reopened following an inspection of the area conducted by divers, fishermen, and specialists, who determined that there was no longer any danger from the presence of sharks.
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