You all are not going to believe this! An alarming new proposal by the Queensland Government will establish a dedicated shark fin fishery in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and other marine parks in Queensland. The Australian Marine Conservation Society (and anyone who cares for our oceans) is astonished by this proposal, in which Queensland's fisheries department (DPI&F) plans to legitimise one of the most unsustainable forms of fishing on the planet - shark fin fishing. With over 90% of the world's sharks and other big fish gone from our oceans, this project is unsustainable, unethical and will be flatly rejected by the Australian public. Source: Website
I signed the petition "Stop the Proposal of Shark Fin Fishery on The Great Barrier Reef". I'm asking you to sign this petition to help us reach our goal of 5,000 signatures. I care deeply about this cause, and I hope you will support our efforts.Click Here to Sign
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
An Email from a someone who disagrees
Here is part of an email I receive in response to my support of SharkWater
Nikki, That guy in that movie misrepresented a lot of stuff and attacking local fisherman offshore in central America what pretty ridiculous. That's what the coastal people there do for a living and they are fishing for Mahi as much as shark, they do not mention that all of the mahi in the US restaurants come from long liners in central America. That's the truth its like 98% of the Dorado, Dolphin Fish whatever you want to call them, come from down there and they are caught by the same fisherman.I think it all stinks but that kid in the movie misrepresented a lot of other issues that he could have educated us about and what an arrogant personality he is. He takes video credit basically for a lot of footage that I have seen before and I know he did not shoot.Just some ventilation, sorry.
Here is my email response to this person....
Aloha,
First I have to say that, understandably, your email invoked some emotion in me! I know you were just venting to me, but now I must vent to you...I believe you when you say he "misrepresented" stuff, but as an activist sometimes you have to shine light on one specific horrible thing, to get any attention. Before this movie, no one was paying attention to the fate of the sharks, now they are, even you are paying it a little attention, even if it is negitive. The fact is that the shark finning industry is depleting our oceans of a vital predator that creates balance in the oceans. Besides that, you have to admit that those fisherman were not fishing to feed their nation, they were fishing to murder sharks for their fins, they did it tauntly in the film, they did it viciously because the Sea Shepard was trying to stop them. They fin the sharks and throw them overboard to drown sometimes taking a long time to die...if that were any other land dwelling creature that time or method of death would not be acceptable. It is inhuman! I mean come on, even you have to admit that the practice of long lining kills many different ocean dwelling creatures, turtles included. He was absolutely right about a lot of things, including that the fisherman view the ocean as free domain to be fished and used however they want! My point is that it is not right! In the age that we live in with global warming and such, we can not allow this to go on...In the movie SharkWater, I learned many things, but the one thing that really stuck in my head is this: Sharks feed on fish that feed on plankton. Plankton produce as much as 80% of the world's oxygen supply, if we eradicate sharks, we will throw off the balance of plankton feeding fish in the ocean...we will decrease the populations of sharks, increase populations of plankton feeders and decrease plankton...inevitably decreasing oxygen supply... If this issue is not brought into the eye of the public, what will happen to our O2???? Even if he misrepresented somethings, don't you think it was only for the good of our world? And in the huge scheme of things misrepresenting the killing of a vital part of our eco-system is a lot less of a crime than say maybe misrepresenting the reasons to go to war with a country, that supposedly has weapons of mass destruction???? The fact is that the oceans have become a free for all! There are laws, that protect the oceans, and they are there for a reason...this film shows that these laws are not being followed! What ever means Rob Stewart used to prove this point are not "misrepresentive" they are true! I take your point about mahi to heart and don't by any means take that lightly, it is just another issue of long lining that should be addressed. Long lining and shark finning are two issues that should be addressed and if that means the US price of Mahi goes up, so be it! We can't continue to allow our oceans to be fished like they have been, we need a change! Rob and the Sea Shepard are fighting for those changes, and so am I. I respect you opinion, if I didn't I would not have taken the time to respond. I know you were just venting, and now, so am I. Thank you for taking the time to watch SharkWater and to write me. I respect you opinion and those of others like you, but respectfully disagree!
Much Aloha,
Niki
Nikki, That guy in that movie misrepresented a lot of stuff and attacking local fisherman offshore in central America what pretty ridiculous. That's what the coastal people there do for a living and they are fishing for Mahi as much as shark, they do not mention that all of the mahi in the US restaurants come from long liners in central America. That's the truth its like 98% of the Dorado, Dolphin Fish whatever you want to call them, come from down there and they are caught by the same fisherman.I think it all stinks but that kid in the movie misrepresented a lot of other issues that he could have educated us about and what an arrogant personality he is. He takes video credit basically for a lot of footage that I have seen before and I know he did not shoot.Just some ventilation, sorry.
Here is my email response to this person....
Aloha,
First I have to say that, understandably, your email invoked some emotion in me! I know you were just venting to me, but now I must vent to you...I believe you when you say he "misrepresented" stuff, but as an activist sometimes you have to shine light on one specific horrible thing, to get any attention. Before this movie, no one was paying attention to the fate of the sharks, now they are, even you are paying it a little attention, even if it is negitive. The fact is that the shark finning industry is depleting our oceans of a vital predator that creates balance in the oceans. Besides that, you have to admit that those fisherman were not fishing to feed their nation, they were fishing to murder sharks for their fins, they did it tauntly in the film, they did it viciously because the Sea Shepard was trying to stop them. They fin the sharks and throw them overboard to drown sometimes taking a long time to die...if that were any other land dwelling creature that time or method of death would not be acceptable. It is inhuman! I mean come on, even you have to admit that the practice of long lining kills many different ocean dwelling creatures, turtles included. He was absolutely right about a lot of things, including that the fisherman view the ocean as free domain to be fished and used however they want! My point is that it is not right! In the age that we live in with global warming and such, we can not allow this to go on...In the movie SharkWater, I learned many things, but the one thing that really stuck in my head is this: Sharks feed on fish that feed on plankton. Plankton produce as much as 80% of the world's oxygen supply, if we eradicate sharks, we will throw off the balance of plankton feeding fish in the ocean...we will decrease the populations of sharks, increase populations of plankton feeders and decrease plankton...inevitably decreasing oxygen supply... If this issue is not brought into the eye of the public, what will happen to our O2???? Even if he misrepresented somethings, don't you think it was only for the good of our world? And in the huge scheme of things misrepresenting the killing of a vital part of our eco-system is a lot less of a crime than say maybe misrepresenting the reasons to go to war with a country, that supposedly has weapons of mass destruction???? The fact is that the oceans have become a free for all! There are laws, that protect the oceans, and they are there for a reason...this film shows that these laws are not being followed! What ever means Rob Stewart used to prove this point are not "misrepresentive" they are true! I take your point about mahi to heart and don't by any means take that lightly, it is just another issue of long lining that should be addressed. Long lining and shark finning are two issues that should be addressed and if that means the US price of Mahi goes up, so be it! We can't continue to allow our oceans to be fished like they have been, we need a change! Rob and the Sea Shepard are fighting for those changes, and so am I. I respect you opinion, if I didn't I would not have taken the time to respond. I know you were just venting, and now, so am I. Thank you for taking the time to watch SharkWater and to write me. I respect you opinion and those of others like you, but respectfully disagree!
Much Aloha,
Niki
Monday, May 5, 2008
Why should you care about sharks???
A lot of people have been asking, "why should I save sharks, they scare me." Well, there are a lot of reasons to save sharks. If you are someone who is questioning this new idea, that sharks are not something to fear, you should defiantly watch the movie SharkWater. Trust me after you watch it, you will have a surprising change of heart. I know I did...take it from a Michigander who has been conditioned all her life to fear sharks, and who was told not to surf because you will be eaten by a shark! Well, I haven't been and I no longer fear them, but only see the beauty of this creature that has survived five major extinctions. I have researched and compiled some info for you about why you should save sharks.
In an interview, Rob Stewart explains why we should save sharks:
"Species evolving in the oceans over the last 400 million years, have been shaped by their predators, the sharks, giving rise to schooling behavior, camouflage, speed, size and communication. They have survived five major extinctions and now they are being fished out. Many countries have no sharks left because they are being illegally harvested for their fins and poachers are now fishing sharks from other countries, countries that depend on sharks for food. But no one wants to save sharks, people are afraid of them."
In the movie SharkWater, I learned many things, but the one thing that really stuck in my head is this: Sharks feed on fish that feed on plankton. Plankton produce as much as 80% of the world's oxygen supply, if we eradicate sharks, we will throw off the balance of plankton feeding fish in the ocean...we will decrease the populations of sharks, increase populations of plankton feeders and decrease plankton...inevitably decreasing oxygen supply.
The most heart breaking tragedy that is facing sharks is Shark Finning.
Shark Finning is:
• Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of shark fins and the discard at sea of the carcass. The shark is most often still alive when it is tossed back into the water. Unable to swim, and bleeding to death, the shark suffers a slow death where 95% of the animal is wasted.
• Shark finning takes place at sea so the fishers have only the fins to transport, and have no need for refrigeration. Shark meat is considered low value and therefore not worth the cost of transporting the bulky shark bodies to market.
• Any shark is taken – regardless of age, size, or species. They are even killing the gental and gigantic Whale Shark.
• Long lines are the most widespread method of fishing for sharks.
• Shark finning is widespread, and largely unmanaged and unmonitored.
• Shark finning has increased over the past decade due to the increasing demand for shark fins (for shark fin soup and traditional cures), improved fishing technology, and improved market
economics.
• Shark specialists estimate that more than 100 million sharks are killed for their fins annually.
The Impact of Shark Finning:
• Loss and devastation of shark populations around the world. Experts estimate that within a decade, numerous species of sharks will be lost because of long lining.
• Unsustainable fishery. The massive quantity of sharks harvested and lack of selection deplete shark populations faster than their reproductive abilities sustain.
• Threatens the stability of marine ecosystems.
• Loss of sharks as a food staple for many developing countries.
• Large industrial, foreign fishing vessels that threaten traditional sustainable fisheries invade local waters.
• Obstructs the collection of species-specific data that are essential for monitoring catches and implementing sustainable fisheries management.
Websites about sharks and shark finning
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
www.seashepherd.org
WildAid
www.wildaid.org
Shark Trust
www.sharktrust.org
Shark Project
www.sharkproject.org
The Florida Museum of Natural History/American Elasmobranch Society/International Shark Attack
File
www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/
ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research
http://elasmo-research.org/
Sources:
Sharkwater.com
In an interview, Rob Stewart explains why we should save sharks:
"Species evolving in the oceans over the last 400 million years, have been shaped by their predators, the sharks, giving rise to schooling behavior, camouflage, speed, size and communication. They have survived five major extinctions and now they are being fished out. Many countries have no sharks left because they are being illegally harvested for their fins and poachers are now fishing sharks from other countries, countries that depend on sharks for food. But no one wants to save sharks, people are afraid of them."
In the movie SharkWater, I learned many things, but the one thing that really stuck in my head is this: Sharks feed on fish that feed on plankton. Plankton produce as much as 80% of the world's oxygen supply, if we eradicate sharks, we will throw off the balance of plankton feeding fish in the ocean...we will decrease the populations of sharks, increase populations of plankton feeders and decrease plankton...inevitably decreasing oxygen supply.
The most heart breaking tragedy that is facing sharks is Shark Finning.
Shark Finning is:
• Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of shark fins and the discard at sea of the carcass. The shark is most often still alive when it is tossed back into the water. Unable to swim, and bleeding to death, the shark suffers a slow death where 95% of the animal is wasted.
• Shark finning takes place at sea so the fishers have only the fins to transport, and have no need for refrigeration. Shark meat is considered low value and therefore not worth the cost of transporting the bulky shark bodies to market.
• Any shark is taken – regardless of age, size, or species. They are even killing the gental and gigantic Whale Shark.
• Long lines are the most widespread method of fishing for sharks.
• Shark finning is widespread, and largely unmanaged and unmonitored.
• Shark finning has increased over the past decade due to the increasing demand for shark fins (for shark fin soup and traditional cures), improved fishing technology, and improved market
economics.
• Shark specialists estimate that more than 100 million sharks are killed for their fins annually.
The Impact of Shark Finning:
• Loss and devastation of shark populations around the world. Experts estimate that within a decade, numerous species of sharks will be lost because of long lining.
• Unsustainable fishery. The massive quantity of sharks harvested and lack of selection deplete shark populations faster than their reproductive abilities sustain.
• Threatens the stability of marine ecosystems.
• Loss of sharks as a food staple for many developing countries.
• Large industrial, foreign fishing vessels that threaten traditional sustainable fisheries invade local waters.
• Obstructs the collection of species-specific data that are essential for monitoring catches and implementing sustainable fisheries management.
Websites about sharks and shark finning
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
www.seashepherd.org
WildAid
www.wildaid.org
Shark Trust
www.sharktrust.org
Shark Project
www.sharkproject.org
The Florida Museum of Natural History/American Elasmobranch Society/International Shark Attack
File
www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/
ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research
http://elasmo-research.org/
Sources:
Sharkwater.com
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