The first time I encountered a great white shark, it was already dead. I had managed to catch it in my net, and the feeling of triumph washed over me. In that moment, I believed that this catch could bring fortune to my village and provide sustenance for my family. Coming from Andavadoaka, a small fishing community on the south-west coast of Madagascar, where the arid conditions make it impossible for crops to thrive, our tribe’s name “Vezo” signifies our dependence on the ocean for survival.
At just 16 years old, I became a shark fisher out of necessity. Unable to afford school fees any longer, I followed in my uncle’s footsteps and joined him in fishing to support my family financially. Back then, sharks were nothing more than commodities to me – means of making money and putting food on the table.
It was when I turned 18 that everything changed. We were fishing in shark territory about 15km offshore when we decided to pull in our net due to worsening weather conditions. Unable to see what lay inside due to its depth, one of my crew members put on a diving mask and suddenly shouted – there was a great white shark entangled in our net.
Risking my life for this catch was undoubtedly one of the most terrifying experiences I’ve ever had. The shark measured 4 meters (13ft) long and weighed around 400kg (880lbs). My boat was only 6 meters long with a 4-meter sail.
With stormy weather raging around us – strong winds and heavy rain – we had no choice but to sink the boat down level with the ocean surface so we could haul the massive creature onboard. We lacked communication devices like radios or mobile phones; even an engine would have been helpful at that moment. It took us five grueling hours battling against nature’s fury before finally reaching shore again.
I shared half of the meat with my community while selling off the rest for $120 (£90). For five years after that encounter, killing up to 50 sharks per day became routine – though some days yielded as few as three catches if luck wasn’t on our side.
However, it was ultimately my brother who prompted me towards change by joining forces with Blue Ventures: a British conservation NGO working towards educating people in our village about sharks’ importance. Reflecting upon his work made me reconsider mine as well; he helped me secure employment as a data collector for Frances Humber—a conservationist associated with Blue Ventures—where despite earning less money than before, I gained valuable knowledge about marine life conservation while also learning English.
As I delved deeper into understanding sharks’ crucial role within marine ecosystems—ensuring an abundant fish supply for both myself and others—I grew increasingly fascinated by these creatures rather than viewing them solely as sources of income or danger.
