In this note we present results on the interaction of fully nonlinear internal solitary waves with the oceanic bottom boundary layer. We show that for fully nonlinear solitary waves it is the interaction of the wave induced velocity field with the upstream boundary layer vorticity that leads to a vortex shedding instability beneath the wave. The vortex shedding provides an efficient mechanism for transporting sediment out of the bottom boundary layer. Bottom boundary stress profiles suggest that the vortex shedding can lead to the resuspension of sediment. In contrast to past studies we find that neither a separation bubble or a wave with a recirculating region are required for vortex shedding to occur.