A dead juvenile reef shark was recently found floating off Sta. Cruz Island in Zamboanga City, with a disposable diaper tightly wrapped around its head. Observers believe the diaper may have caused the shark’s death by suffocation.
The sighting was made by diver Harvey Yap, who said this was the first time in 15 years of diving in the area that he saw a dead reef shark.
Authorities from DENR Region IX are investigating the incident to understand the exact cause and to address broader environmental risks.
Yap expressed concern that the shark’s death highlights a growing problem of marine pollution in the area — particularly trash like plastic, ropes, and discarded diapers that endanger coral reefs and their wildlife.