Brave divers remove hook from shark's mouth

This heartwarming video shows two divers helping a shark injured by a fishing hook - and it brings a refreshing change from the usual shark 'horror' stories.

Sharks are frequently portrayed as vicious predators who pose nothing but a threat to human life. But, as this video shows, this is far from the truth.

Over the past few decades, shark populations around the world have started to decline rapidly, and one of the many causes of this is the damage done by line fishing.

Luckily, this shark escaped, but researchers say many other sharks have not been as lucky.

According to PBS Nature, longliners — which set lines of up to 15 miles long, laden with hundreds or thousands of baited hooks — pose an increasingly potent threat to sharks, which are often hunted for their fins and meat.

Other marine animals not intended to be caught by longliners, such as sea turtles and seabirds, can also take the bait and drown.

One similar rescue was performed last year by friends Cameron Nimmo, 26, and Mickey Smith, 25, who call themselves Shark Addicts.

The pair have made it their mission to remove hooks from the mouths, noses and bodies of the sharks they see when diving. The hooks are often left in the sharks after being caught and released by fishermen.

During the encounter, off the coast of Jupiter, Florida, Randy Jordan of Emerald Charters helped put the Silky shark in a trance by turning it upside town, which enabled the extraction.

Using a pair of pliers Cameron successfully detached the hook before the shark swam free.

Cameron, from Florida, USA, said: "I love popping the hooks out - it's a great feeling.

"There is some danger there but the last thing I'm thinking about it getting bitten - I just want to get the hook out.

"We love sharks so much and want to be around them as much as possible.

"We are trying to changes people perspective on sharks through the videos that Mickey films.

"We want to help protect our oceans and marine life."

The friends estimate that around 75 per cent of the sharks they encounter have hooks attached.

Cameron said: "We see between five and twenty sharks on a dive and so many have hooks embedded.

"It happens when people who are fishing, they catch them and cut the line so they don't have to bring it on the boat, or the shark breaks the line.

"Taking a hook out feels great, knowing you have helped one of these magnificent creatures makes it all worth it."

The friends hope to turn their passion into a business and teach others about the importance of caring for sharks.

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