article_snippet.sent: Andreas Rasmussen, Christian Boyum Johansen and Johan Berg are filmed by Emil Fogh, standing just centimetres away from the shark Andreas Rasmussen, Christian Boyum Johansen and Johan Berg've captured in an activity that is terrifying but completely legal in New Zealand, to the point New Zealand has become a competitive sport.
article_snippet.sent: As a shark is legal to fish for sharks in New Zealand, a shark has become a sport known as 'big game fishing' in which 'shark anglers' catch and release the creatures.
article_snippet.sent: For many New Zealanders it has become a business to allow people, particularly tourists, to take part in the land-based shark fishing catch and release experience.
article_snippet.sent: Companies promise that participants can expect to 'catch fish such as large tiger sharks and hammerheads' in places such as New Zealand's Tauranaga Harbour.
article_snippet.sent: The 'catch and release' philosophy is in keeping with New Zealand's dedication to conservation and sustainable fishing,' according to the New Zealand Tourism Guide website. '
article_snippet.sent: New Zealanders even compete in big game finishing tournaments, including the 'SSI Sharkin Catch and Release Tournament', which will be held from May 1 and offers prize money for the biggest catch.
article_snippet.sent: There are about 113 species of shark in New Zealand waters and of these more than 70 species are caught by fishers.
article_snippet.sent: In October 2014 New Zealand finally banned the practice of shark finning, a move that was seen as finally diminishing a primitive practice and 'bringing the country in line with other developed nations'.
article_snippet.sent: Shark fin soup is considered a delicacy by some in China.
article_snippet.sent: Pew Charitable Trusts estimates at least 100 million sharks are caught commercially each year, threatening the survival of some species.
article_snippet.sent: New Zealand officials estimate that commercial fishers catch about 20,000 tons of sharks annually and export about 121 tons of shark fins.
highlights_snippet.sent: Catching and releasing a shark is a legal sport in New Zealand .
  