MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. – Florida deputies on patrol in designated swim areas came to the aid of a shark on Friday, which had become ensnared in the buoy line of a crab trap.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reported that the shark appeared to be in distress, prompting them to reach out to Mote Marine Laboratory, a renowned nonprofit dedicated to marine research.

“Mote personnel responded promptly and were able to safely extract several hooks and pieces of fishing gear from the shark, ultimately freeing it from the entanglement,” stated the sheriff’s office.

According to deputies, it is believed that the shark was initially caught by a beach angler and subsequently became further entangled as the fishing line wrapped around the buoy line.

The sheriff’s office emphasized that without the timely intervention of Mote Marine experts, the shark’s survival would have been in jeopardy.

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