A shocking video has been released showing four tourists they catching a bronzer shark in New Zealand, dragging the thrashing creature in to shore and then pose for photos with the creature. Andreas Rasmussen, Christian Boyum Johansen and Johan Berg are filmed by Emil Fogh, standing just centimetres away from the shark they've captured in an activity that is terrifying but completely legal in New Zealand, to the point it has become a competitive sport. One of the man stands at the water's edge with a fishing line in his hands and the waves lapping at his feet when suddenly he launches forward, dragged by the great weight of the creature who has attached itself to his fishing line. The first fisherman is dragged deep into the water from the water's edge within seconds when the mighty shark takes hold of the end of his line . Once captured, one person brazenly opens the sharks mouth whilst the other removes the hook . The fisherman and his friends whoop with excitement, certain they have achieved their goal: to catch a shark. The line spins rapidly as their catch continues to swim around and the fisherman is pulled deeper and deeper into the water at an alarming rate. The fisherman's friend grabs hold of his shoulders and together they pull against the shark on the end of the line, determined to bring it into shore. As one person holds onto the line, a massive shark leaps out of the water less than two metres away, thrashing violently to try release itself from the hook. The three men in the video cheer excitedly, without a hint of apprehension. The shark is then pulled into shore, its huge teeth less than a metre away from the feet of the man who brazenly jerks it in to land. As the fisherman is dragged after the shark, his friend grabs hold of his shoulder and they forcefully pull the shark closer in to shore . The video then cuts to a few moments later, as the shark, now inexplicably still and unresponsive, is pulled in to the sand by its tail. The three men on-camera comfortably stand next to the shark, centimetres away from its face and grab it by the head to release the hook. A man in shorts kneels next to the two metre shark in the water, holding it up by its fin and tail. The shark is then pushed back into water by its tail. For a moment the bronzer shark snaps its head around as if to attack, but it proceeds to swim back into deep waters. As it is legal to fish for sharks in New Zealand, it has become a sport known as 'big game fishing' in which 'shark anglers' catch and release the creatures. One of the men stands just a metre away from the thrashing shark to pull it onto the sand . However, it crucial that the 'sport' is only attempted by those that know the techniques which are safe for both the participant and the shark – to ensure everyone involved remains alive. 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. 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. Shark fisherman focus on using peep release techniques 'to send sharks happily on their way after gaining 'biggest-catch' bragging rights.' '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. 'Even in non-release areas, many anglers adopt the catch and release principle, or simply bag only their last catch of the day to take home for eating.' For the sea creature to survive, it is crucial that people engaging in big-game fishing handle their catch minimally. The fisherman whoop and cheer with delight as the bronzer shark desperately tries to escape . 'When using the catch and release method, anglers should realise that prolonged handling decreases the fish's chances of survival,' the website says. 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. There are about 113 species of shark in New Zealand waters and of these more than 70 species are caught by fishers. 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'. New Zealand's Conservation Minister Nick Smith said the move reinforced the country's reputation for sustainability and environmental protection. A man grins widely as he holds the shark near the water's edge with a hand on its tail and another on its fin - but the shark does not turn around to snap at its captor . The new rules made it illegal to remove fins from dead sharks and dump the carcasses at sea. It was already illegal in New Zealand to remove fins from live sharks. Shark fin soup is considered a delicacy by some in China. But the practice of shark finning has been condemned by many environmentalists as inhumane and wasteful. Pew Charitable Trusts estimates at least 100 million sharks are caught commercially each year, threatening the survival of some species. New Zealand officials estimate that commercial fishers catch about 20,000 tons of sharks annually and export about 121 tons of shark fins. Imogen Zethoven, director of Pew's global shark conservation campaign, said in an email the ban was an important first step, although was unlikely to reduce the numbers of sharks caught in New Zealand. She said Pew would like to see nations impose complete bans on catching shark species threatened with extinction, and sustainable catch limits placed on other species. The shark is then released back into the ocean and it quickly swims back into deep waters .
Tourists posted a video of themselves dragging a shark onto shore .
The clip shows them catching the huge shark with a fishing line on a New Zealand beach .
They stand just centimetres away from the beast who thrashes angrily .
Catching and releasing a shark is a legal sport in New Zealand .
It's crucial right techniques are used for safety of fisherman and shark .
The shark should not be touch minimally, but in the video the tourists drag the shark in and pose for photos holding the creature .