A diver in Sta. Cruz has found a juvenile reef shark that suffocated after a disposable diaper became wrapped around its head, a discovery he described as distressing.
According to diver Harvey Yap, who has been exploring the area for 15 years, this is the third juvenile reef shark he has encountered and the first to die from such waste. He emphasized that the problem of plastic pollution, including ropes and other debris, is worsening and actively killing the local reef ecosystem.
The incident shows a growing environmental crisis with Yap also noting that two large hawksbill turtles rescued this year later died from ingesting plastic waste.
Photo by Harvey Yap via Lane
