A fishing trip turned tragic on Saturday when a Bua fisherman was attacked and killed by a shark, which severely maimed him and tore off his left arm.
Marika Nasau, a 22-year-old from Naivaka Village on the north-west coast of Bua, succumbed to blood loss after the incident, as reported by local authorities. Nasau was part of a group of 15 villagers who set out for Motonisici Reef, located off Yaqaga Island, early that Saturday morning.
The attack took place around 2 p.m., marking the first recorded shark incident for fishermen in that region. According to police, Nasau had been diving approximately 25 meters from where the others were fishing. Shortly after he entered the water, the group heard splashes and spotted a shark’s fin. They witnessed Nasau struggling to escape the predator, but were unable to intervene.
Nasau’s right arm was partially severed and he suffered severe bites, leaving his friends helpless as the shark threatened any attempts to rescue him. The incident was initially reported to Nabouwalu Police Station before it was communicated to Labasa Police Station.
Inspector Selanai Raumakita from the Central Police Station noted that the villagers identified the shark as quite large. Witness accounts suggested that the attack happened so quickly that identifying the specific species of shark was difficult.
Maciu Logabalavu, the Director of Fisheries, remarked on the rarity of shark attacks in the area, emphasizing that this was the first such incident recorded off the Bua coast. The last fatal attack occurred in Yasawa in 1995, when a 69-year-old man was bitten by a mako shark.
Fishing is a critical source of income for those in coastal villages and outlying islands, where aerial diving and catch are vital for their livelihoods.