A fishing trip turned deadly on Saturday when a fisherman from Bua was attacked by a shark, which violently severed his left arm. Marika Nasau, a 22-year-old, succumbed to his injuries due to excessive blood loss.
Authorities from Nabouwalu reported that Nasau was fishing with 14 other villagers at the time of the incident. The group had departed from Naivaka earlier that morning, heading towards Motonisici Reef near Yaqaga Island where the attack occurred at around 2 PM. This incident marks the first recorded shark attack in those waters according to local fishermen.
Nasau had been diving approximately 25 meters from his fishing companions when the attack ensued. The other villagers heard splashes and noticed a shark’s fin and saw Nasau fighting to swim away but were helpless to intervene. During the attack, Nasau sustained severe injuries to his right arm, which was partially ripped off.
Police indicated that any attempt to rescue him was hampered by the aggressive behavior of the shark. Inspector Selanai Raumakita from the Central Police Station said the incident was initially reported to the Nabouwalu Police before being forwarded to the Labasa Police Station. The villagers present described the shark as being quite large, but the rapid nature of the attack made it difficult to identify the species.
Maciu Logabalavu, the Director of Fisheries, noted that shark attacks in this region are rare, highlighting that this was the first such event along the Bua coast. The last recorded fatal shark attack occurred in Yasawa in 1995, involving a 69-year-old man who was bitten by a mako shark. Fishermen in remote islands and coastal areas depend heavily on diving and fishing for their livelihoods.