Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

These images taken by divers show the severed heads and fins of sharks which have been cut off and dumped on a coral reef in a national park.

The body parts of the dead sharks were found in the Caribaru reefs, which are located in the natural park of Rosario Islands, a group of Caribbean islands located around 62 miles off the coast of Cartagena, in the northern Colombian department of Bolivar.

Images show the shark heads and fins which the group of divers found and there are conflicting theories on how they appeared in the reef.

Marine biologist Freddy Orjuela believes that the animals died after falling victim to bad fishing practices carried out by locals.

He said: “As they are not needed, the fishermen just cut off the fins, cut the head off, take the meat and throw the rest in the sea.”

However, local media report other experts believe the sharks were caught by fishermen who then threw the body parts into the sea when they saw that the authorities were in the area.

Omarelis Almanza, who sells fish in Cartagena, said to local media that shark “is the best fish in the sea, it is sold a lot, and especially at Easter.”

The sharks, the exact species of which has not been reported, had not yet reached sexual maturity when they were killed.

Colombia’s National Army Coastguards have reportedly activated increased control operations after the case made headlines in the country.

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