Shark finning on the Great Barrier Reef??? (LINK)
May 16th 2008 06:58
SORRY??? Did you say hunt gorillas and lop off their paws, for the ashtray trade?? Or maybe you suggested we should hunt Rhinoceros for their horns, and make some love potions?? I could use an umbrella stand, can someone get me an elephant foot??
Finning sharks is just as crazy.
How about we actively hunt a critically endangered animal, in one of the most stunningly beautiful and popular NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD for a few pieces of it’s body which we’ll make into one of the world’s most crap soups.??
Unfortunately, I’m talking about the recent Queensland government proposal to allow a dedicated shark fin fishery in the Great Barrier Reef world heritage area as well as other marine parks in QLD.
Good Grief... Have we gone mental???
Sharks are fundamental to healthy oceans. As apex predators they control populations of prey species and weed out weakness.
Sharks are also very slow breeders. Reproductively, they have more in common with whales and dolphins than other fish. (Yes, a lot of sharks give birth to their young) They are slow to reach sexual maturity and birth few offspring. They are therefore, extremely vulnerable to fishing pressures.
For years we have been horrified by illegal fisherfolk, targeting sharks for fins. Now our Government is planning to legitimise this fishery in QLD waters. They will circumvent their own laws by retaining the shark carcasses, to be sold as fertiliser.
Those of us who care about the oceans need to make our voices heard on this issue. Let the QLD Govt. know we do not want to sanction this activity.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society is campaigning against shark finning in QLD. Have a look at their website AMCS link send a letter to the govt and/or make a donation to help.
Finning sharks is just as crazy.
How about we actively hunt a critically endangered animal, in one of the most stunningly beautiful and popular NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD for a few pieces of it’s body which we’ll make into one of the world’s most crap soups.??
Unfortunately, I’m talking about the recent Queensland government proposal to allow a dedicated shark fin fishery in the Great Barrier Reef world heritage area as well as other marine parks in QLD.
Good Grief... Have we gone mental???
Sharks are fundamental to healthy oceans. As apex predators they control populations of prey species and weed out weakness.
Sharks are also very slow breeders. Reproductively, they have more in common with whales and dolphins than other fish. (Yes, a lot of sharks give birth to their young) They are slow to reach sexual maturity and birth few offspring. They are therefore, extremely vulnerable to fishing pressures.
For years we have been horrified by illegal fisherfolk, targeting sharks for fins. Now our Government is planning to legitimise this fishery in QLD waters. They will circumvent their own laws by retaining the shark carcasses, to be sold as fertiliser.
Those of us who care about the oceans need to make our voices heard on this issue. Let the QLD Govt. know we do not want to sanction this activity.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society is campaigning against shark finning in QLD. Have a look at their website AMCS link send a letter to the govt and/or make a donation to help.
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark. Pic courtesy AMCS
| 75 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
I just watched the film Sharkwater last week - ooh - see my review HERE
and this is all about global shark finning but mainly based in Sth America and for the finning for the Japanese shark fin soup craze but I never thought in a million years this would effect Australia.
But - if you watch the movie you will see that these areas are getting fished out and the shark finning companies pay HUGE monies - about $200-US a pound for the catch.
It is SO sad!!!
Boo the government for even considering this!!!!!
Comment by Kim L
Diving About
Thanks so much for your comment.
People find it pretty easy to ignore the slaughter of sharks, because they saw 'Jaws' when they were little and wet their pants!!!!
'Sharkwater' has done a great thing in bringing this issue into the mainstream and letting people see that it is just as cruel, wasteful and ecologically hazzardous as whaling.
Good on you for caring!!!
Kim
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
Comment by Louie
Climate Forum
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
I totally agree with this post, just because we are AFRAID of sharks and they aren't cute and fluffy does not mean we shouldn't protect them, as you say they are a vital part of the ocean.
Comment by Kim L
Diving About
Fear is an amazing thing.
The fact that there are only a handful of sharks even CAPABLE of fatally injuring a person, seems to go unnoticed by most people.
Actually, that gives me an idea for a post...
Jason and Louie - thanks both of you for caring about this issue. Now we just have to convince the Qld Govt. to care....
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
In the 1960's and early 70's there were few people who would have considered this wrong, although we all thought eating a shark's fin repulsive! However, nearly all the fish sold in our fish and chip shops was "flake', or shark.
Add to this culture a few random attacks, one being so famous that the Wax Works in Kings Cross did a life size diorama on it; a life saver dragging a boy from the surf, his face contorted in agony and just appearing out of the water were his bloodied severed legs....man that made quite an impression!!
I think it represented an actual attack at one of our big local beaches, maybe Bondi, can't remember.
However, sharks were plentiful back then, and the general populace was totally ignorant of the behavioural differences in the species and how most species kept clear of humans.
However, as happened a year or two ago up in Queensland, where the woman lost her life, if you are swimming in warm waters, in the murky shallows at sunrise, or sunset, well you just put yourself on a menu and you deserve it!!
Anyway, this current situation you show us here, is utterly dispicable!!!
Our moronic Parliamentarians are so incompetent in handling our economy, they have to resort to this barbarity, and in our most famous national sea park!!!
They make me sick!
Thanks so much for letting us know Kim L, I will write a strong rebuke!!
cheers
fog
Comment by Kim L
Diving About
Our understanding of sharks has come a long way in the last 30 years. Most reasonable people acknowledge the rarity of bites from sharks (compared to the numbers of people who use the beaches).
We would consider anyone who swims in a river in Northern Australia as foolish for entering the territory of the Saltwater Crocodile, and most people have a similar response to shark bites - we are in their space, sometimes they bite us!! We accept the risk, or stay out of the water.
You mention 'flake'... and it is one of my personal 'soap box issues' We can not continue to push species to the brink of extinction in the name of cuisine. When we fish we are taking WILD animals. Imagine the outcry if I started catching and selling Koala at a restaurant.... but no one bats an eye when sharks and other large - slow breeding - fish are gobbled up.
We will soon have an ocean, barren of all but the most inedible life forms.
Thanks once again for your comment... The AMCS have a sustainable fish finder, which helps people make better choices when they eat sea animals.
It's on their website too.
Kim
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
it was my pleasure and I also consider a duty to help protect our fellow Earth inhabitants.
I have been tossing up whether to go totally vegetarian for a long while now...nearly there!
I refuse to eat pork products, made from pigs in those obscene intensive farms, where they cannot turn around or walk, but can only stand or lay down in their separated pens, eventually they turn violent towards the people working there because they go insane, poor things.
I try to buy free range only, when financially possible.
I checked out the site too, most informative.
cheers
fog
Comment by Kim L
Diving About
We toyed with the idea of having a 'sacrificial animal' (the one meat animal we would eat and we considered kangaroo, because it occurs naturally in Australia) but in the end we decided to eat any meat (but not fish), as long as it was produced in a manner that is both humane and as 'green' as possible.. i.e freerange eggs and chickens, free range pork and beef that is not raised in feedlots. It is damn hard to find this kind of food...
The environmental impact of intensive farming of ANYTHING is huge (witness what is happening to the Great Barrier Reef due to run off from the sugar cane farms) and you have to eat something!!!.
I guess it is just about trying to make good choices and asking for sustainable/environmentally friendly options. 10 years ago organic produce was a bit hippy... now it is everywhere you look.
You might be interested to know that we have more conversations with people about the depletion of fish worldwide now than we ever did when we were full vegetarians. And people listen now... I guess we seem less like lentil chomping hippies with a big hunk of 'babe' on the plate!!!!!
Kim
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
HAHAHA!! Very funny, but also sooo blasted annoying, that people must feel that you are 'one of them' before they will listen! Actually, for got to say how funny I found your opening, very caustic and very funny!
I have noticed this about you...your wit is one of the sharper ones on Orble, and you are more amusing!!
cheers and swimming with all those 'noahs arks' must make one witty!!!
fog
Comment by Kim L
Diving About
I have a well developed sense of the absurd!!!
I like people who don't take themselves too seriously - blogging really does open your eyes to all sorts of personalities...
It really is interesting to see some of the reactions.....
Always happy to host you here!!
Kim