Sharks have a severe image problem. Most people have probably never seen the beauty of a shark up close, but I have been fortunate enough to dive with sharks in Belize and Cancun. They are stunning, prehistoric animals that have been swimming the ocean for 400 million years. But when we hear the word shark, our imaginations project a much more villainous image that instills fear and has made at least one great movie. (Playing a vampire on True Blood, I can relate).
In reality, however, humans are the predators and sharks are the prey. We're hunting many shark populations to the brink of extinction.
The demand for shark fins, which are used to make shark fin soup -- a popular dish in Asia -- leads to the killing of tens of millions of sharks around the world each year. Sharks aren't furry or cute, so there just aren't as many voices to speak for their conservation. I know my own feelings toward sharks changed after seeing the documentary Sharkwater, which exposes the shark finning industry while displaying the natural beauty of sharks. I visited the Philippines, too, which also opened my eyes about shark conservation. As trays of shark fin soup passed my table, I saw how voracious the human appetite for shark fins really is, and I realized how changed our oceans would be without sharks.
The whole world isn't going to see Sharkwater, but there are ways to change public opinion of sharks and help populations recover -- and it starts with you. Sharks weren't put here millions of years ago just to be made into soup. We need them, and they need our help -- sharks are part of our ecosystem for a reason.
As you read this, there is a bill awaiting a vote in the U.S. Senate that would eliminate in U.S waters the barbaric practice of amputating shark fins at sea, and make our country an international leader in shark conservation. The Shark Conservation Act is likely to be voted on in the upcoming weeks.
With the clock ticking towards the end of the current Congress, it could also be ticking away the time sharks have in our oceans. It does not have to be that way. You can make a difference by contacting your senators and letting them know that they should support this important legislation before it's too late for sharks.
Playing the top of the food chain on television is fun, but in real life that position has its responsibilities. I suspect sharks aren't here just to be an appetizer.
Please join me in asking our senators to do the right thing for sharks.
Matt Rand: Shark Week Conservation Roundup (VIDEO, SLIDESHOW)
They are just there.
The system is better for them being there, and killing 1000lb of animal for 5lb of fin is spectacularly foolish; however, there is no design.
I have kept a few legal size shark for eating but mostly fish and release. The meat is a bit strong for my taste but marinating them 12-24 hours in Italian Dressing before grilling is fine.
Of course the practice of catching a large shark just for the fin is awful and you have to be very careful of the Species of Shark you target and keep, but there is no reason for a hundred percent ban.
For Example The Atlantic Sharpnose is so plentiful that you have to try and NOT catch them if you are fishing in certain areas here. Of course the Atlantic Sharpnose only gets to about 4 ft and usually smaller. Bonnethead sharks (a small cousin to hammerhead) are also extremely plentiful.
I would agree the whole taking the fin only thing is wrong. Almost No recreational fisherman I know would do that. Unfortunately the Commercial fisherman that are the most destructive do, and the bad publicity from them spills over to those of us that enjoy recreational fishing.
In Georgia any salt water regulated fish (to include shark) must be brought back to the dock Whole. Plus it is only way to measure to make sure the fish was legal size.
So how do we have little to do with this (US citizens are buying shark fins) and no control (we have not even made it illegal to land fins with without the sharks attached)?
Modern fishing technology is allowing these shark slaughters to happen on an unprecedented massive scale.