‘Cocaine sharks’ might be feasting on drugs dumped off Florida coast, scientists say

[Kamaji]

‘Cocaine sharks’ might be feasting on drugs dumped off Florida coast, scientists say

By Patrick Reilly
July 20, 2023

Sharks lurking off of Florida’s coast may be eating bundles of cocaine dumped in the ocean by US-bound drug smugglers — and scientists want to find out.

With the massive amounts of drugs washing up on beaches and being pulled out of the ocean by authorities each year, marine biologist Tom Hird wanted to investigate whether or not sharks had ingested cocaine as part of a new TV series “Cocaine Sharks” — which will premiere during Discovery Channel’s beloved “Shark Week” next week.

In the program, Hird and University of Florida environmental scientist Tracy Fanara conduct a number of experiments on sharks off the Florida Keys, where fishermen have reportedly told tales about drug-addicted fish.

“The deeper story here is the way that chemicals, pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs are entering our waterways — entering our oceans — and what effect that they then could go on to have on these delicate ocean ecosystems,” Hird told Live Science.

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Source:  https://nypost.com/2023/07/20/coke-jaws-cocaine-sharks-may-be-feasting-on-drugs-dumped-off-florida-coast/