Stop Finning!!!!!!!! See "Sharkwater"

[xariatay]

The problem with finning isn't divers knowing about it. The problem is everyone else.

Nope not only everyone else, I know of divers who continue slurping their bowls of shark-fin soup... :no

 

[deco_martini]

And you think the problem is that they don't understand finning is widescale and wrong or that they just don't care and like their soup?

I am hesitant about any movie that further elevates the career of this guy:
Dr. Erich K. Ritter Biography

His brand of quackery needs to be shunned. It doesn't even work for him. Meanwhile he gets the Discovery Channel treatment.

I looked up his academic credentials and a cursory glance shows them suspect. In one place he is supposedly on the staff of Hofstra University. A simple search of the faculty database shows no such employment. Another site claims he is a staff member of University of Zurich, which he also fails to show up in the staff list for.

His sharkwater bio claims:

Erich Ritter has a Ph.D. from Zurich University in “Behavioral Ecology” and is the only professional applied shark-human interaction specialist.

Which should strike anyone as odd since his PhD is in something that requires quotes around it. Whereas other bios say University of Zurich, this one says Zurich University which is a different school. I can find no record of his degree program at either institute of higher learning.

Here is one of the other bios claiming he has an MS/PhD from UoZ:
http://www.fdu.com/erichstaff.htm

As much as I hate the shark finners and how they devastate the shark populations at sea mounts, I would hate for someone with so dubious a history (and whose PhD seems to need quotes and can't stay at one school) to gain more standing in the marine community through this film.

 

[diverdwn71]

I have my background pic on my work pc the same as my profile photo. Everyone who walks by and ask a question about it, I use it as a chance to talk about sharks and how sad their situation is. (My company has over 14,000 employees)

I can't change the world, but if I can get someone to think about it when they go on vacation and take these ocean fishing trips, then maybe I've done something to help save 1 or two sharks out there.

Just my 2.

 

[letterboy]

And you think the problem is that they don't understand finning is widescale and wrong or that they just don't care and like their soup?

I am hesitant about any movie that further elevates the career of this guy:
Dr. Erich K. Ritter Biography

His brand of quackery needs to be shunned. It doesn't even work for him. Meanwhile he gets the Discovery Channel treatment.

I looked up his academic credentials and a cursory glance shows them suspect. In one place he is supposedly on the staff of Hofstra University. A simple search of the faculty database shows no such employment. Another site claims he is a staff member of University of Zurich, which he also fails to show up in the staff list for.

His sharkwater bio claims:


Which should strike anyone as odd since his PhD is in something that requires quotes around it. Whereas other bios say University of Zurich, this one says Zurich University which is a different school. I can find no record of his degree program at either institute of higher learning.

Here is one of the other bios claiming he has an MS/PhD from UoZ:
Dr Erich Ritter

As much as I hate the shark finners and how they devastate the shark populations at sea mounts, I would hate for someone with so dubious a history (and whose PhD seems to need quotes and can't stay at one school) to gain more standing in the marine community through this film.

Sounds like the kind of guy I want to buy a DVD from . . . Can't even get the school he is from straight? WTH . . .

 

[deco_martini]

Sounds like the kind of guy I want to buy a DVD from . . . Can't even get the school he is from straight? WTH . . .

Sharkwater does some great work exposing the nasty underbelly of central American finning. It probably will help open people's eyes about this practice.

I am just a wee bit tired of the Sharkwater spams we get monthly on this forum and I am suspicious about a few of the people behind the film using it to add legitimacy to their careers.

I certainly don't want the news media seeking out "Dr." Ritter for interviews every time there is a new shark attack in the news.

 

[letterboy]

Sharkwater does some great work exposing the nasty underbelly of central American finning. It probably will help open people's eyes about this practice.

I am just a wee bit tired of the Sharkwater spams we get monthly on this forum and I am suspicious about a few of the people behind the film using it to add legitimacy to their careers.

I certainly don't want the news media seeking out "Dr." Ritter for interviews every time there is a new shark attack in the news.

Why not, sometimes the best way to get rid of someone is to have them make total tards of themselves on national television . . .

 

[deco_martini]

Why not, sometimes the best way to get rid of someone is to have them make total tards of themselves on national television . . .

He already did. He was the tard on Discovery Channel who claimed sharks aren't dangerous and won't bite him because of his mediation and body language. Then a bull shark bit his calf off right on camera.

Instead of that sinking his career, it set him up for follow-up documentaries about how brave he was to get back in the water after he had recovered.

When that documentary first aired, my dive buddy called me on the phone:
Buddy: DUDE
Me: what?
Buddy: they had this moron on discovery just now, he said he could regulate his heart rate and stuff so sharks wouldnt attack him
Me: And?
Buddy: a <expletive removed> bull shark bit his <expletive removed> calf off
Me: AUGH
Buddy: dude, they showed him being hauled out of the water, there was nothing left of his calf but bloody strings
Me: AUGHHH
Buddy: AUGHH
Me: AUGHH

Instead of this discrediting his very unscientific work in in shark research, it made him a some sort of martyr because he was willing to get back in the water with sharks after his leg had healed.

 

[octopuppy]

Posting from blog: "Venturing out into New York City, I found a number of restaurants with shark fin soup on the menu, including Mr. Chow Tribeca, K. B. Garden in Queens, and Diamond on Eight in Brooklyn. I made my way to Tribeca for a treat at Mr. Chow's so I could peruse the menu and yes, indeed, I found the offering of shark fin soup. I didn't order the delight, but I was able to ask my waiter what it tasted like. Much to my amazement he looked at me and smiled, saying, "It tastes like chicken soup."

Do not fraternize restaurants that serve it and encourage others to do same.

 

[letterboy]

In case anyone is wondering, two of the OP's 3 posts are starting threads about Sharkfinning . . .

The other thread: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/non-diving-related-stuff/240490-shark-finning.html

 

[Sonet]

All I know is that the documentary is awesome. The message is outstanding. And BTW we definitely have to do something to establish some sort of agency that can enforce the finning laws