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The Biggest Catch
As the tournament is not restricted to just Yarmouth residents, there are many international participants, resulting in dozens of boats and thousands of people participating in the event. The contest involves trying to catch the largest total weight of sharks or largest weight of a single shark.
Data Collection
The derby is not only about the biggest catch; it is also useful for marine biologists to collect data on the sharks, including reproductive states and stomach contents (diet and food availability) as well as number and age. The study of Blue Sharks in Canada relies heavily on the Yarmouth Shark Scramble or other shark derbies, because fishermen tend to discard them at sea when caught commercially.
Shark Uses
Almost every part of each shark is used after the tournament. Their skin can be used as leather, their teeth as ornaments and jewelry, and the oil taken from their liver can be used for machine oil and cosmetics. In addition, some parts are used to make animal treats. All of the sharks caught are sold to a local fish company to become meals after the derby.
Organization History
We started the derby on a whim as a request from fisherman and the general public. In our first year, we had a ground fish and shark derby with about 360 participants. Participation dwindled in the following 2-3 years, so we proceeded with just the shark derby for the next 5-6 years. Major changes concerning the dates of the derby, size of the shark to be landed, and the number of sharks to be landed per boat has steadily increased participation.
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