Ticked Off

[STUEY2]

Well im ticked off! I was recencently diving at a favorite spot with a few friends and a there is often people snorkeling there as well which is all fine. Well, this idiot who was snorkeling (obviously hasn't got a clue at all) with a spear gun snorkeled down and shot a Draughtboard Shark. Now these sharks are no threat to anyone they just lay on the bottom during the day and sleep and eat shells and crustacions at night. I sat there and watched this idiot then proceed to pull this poor shark up from the bottom half dead one of his mates helped him restrain it while he stabbed it to death. That was the final straw for me, I seen red. when i got to the surface the idiot and friend were laughing about the kill. I was furious and so was my buddy we both approached the idiot about it a few nasty words were exchanged, and all this idiot could say was:
"I dont care why should you!" Now how educated is that?

The worst thing about it is i take my students to this spot to show them these sharks and show them how quiet they are. Pick them up and give them a stroke let the students have a pat and put them back to sleep. There was 5 of these sharks now there is only four and they are dwindling and getting harder to find.

 

[jbd]

.... and all this idiot could say was:
"I dont care why should you!" Now how educated is that?

While I agree with you, his response was very disarming. What can you do with someone who doesn't care :06:

There was 5 of these sharks now there is only four and they are dwindling and getting harder to find.

Is there any way to get these sharks placed on an endangered or protected species list which prevents them from being hunted? Could it be they are already on such a list? If so report the guy to the authorities.

 

[Nomaster]

This kind of stuff leaves me feeling powerless, which makes me furious.
As jbd said "...What can you do with someone who doesn't care?"
As another on the board's signature says, "Ignore nature, it'll go away."
If you ignore these types, they seem to multiply.
I hope you weren't too angry to take his auto liscense number or something, so that you can report him if the sharks are protected. There needs to be some sort of accountability.

Tom

 

[JustJoe]

If it was edible, did the shooter take the fish home? I know that this may sound base, but if it is considered a food source and this shooter was going to take it to eat, I have less of a problem then if this was a malicious joy kill.

Joe

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

Ugh! I'm with you. I'm not a spearfisher in any sense, but to each his own. However, with rare/special animals, and especially ones who are just laying around sleeping, I find it contemptible to shoot them. I would have been horrified to see these jerks stabbing a sleeping shark.

And, I'm sorry, you don't have to eat *everything*, so that wouldn't justify it to me. Go have a tuna sandwich. Leave the shark alone.

Gregg

 

[SueMermaid]

Joe, I feel the same way you do.
This saddens me.

 

[Boogie711]

The worst thing about it is i take my students to this spot to show them these sharks and show them how quiet they are. Pick them up and give them a stroke let the students have a pat and put them back to sleep. There was 5 of these sharks now there is only four and they are dwindling and getting harder to find.

OK - his actions are deplorable, sure... but what the HECK are you doing disturbing sleeping marine life, much less encouraging your students to do so as well!!!! :11:

 

[JustJoe]

I am not advocating the indiscriminate killing of sharks, nor trying to justify killing animals. I am not a shark eater so I wouldn't kill one just because, but I do spearfish and I eat what I shoot. I also fish with hook and line and eat what I catch that way as well. And I have been known to hunt birds and some four legged animals as well.

If this shark is not an endangered animal, and is good eatin' (like Mako's), then why shouldn't the spearfisher be allowed to harvest this animal?

The only other point I see that should be made is that the stabbing that went on could well have been simply to dispatch the injured animal in a quicker way other than letting it die slowly while dragging it around. One thing that you do not want after spearing a fish is to have it kicking around on your spear or stringer attracting the attention of the other predators in the water.

Joe

 

[android]

It is not very sporting to shoot the sharks where they hang out peacefully to sleep.

IMO, This snorkel spearo is a sick bas*ard.

 

[STUEY2]

Unfortunatly these sharks are not protected. I will be looking into it though. The thing is these sharks are very common and maybe it would be hard to get then on the endangered list. But im gonna give it a shot anyway.
Boogie you have made me realise something that waking sleeping marine life is not a good thing and from this point on that will cease.Take photos and leave only bubbles. Thank you.
These sharks are not edible infact some one once told me that they taste somewhere in the vacinity of burnt rubber and just as chewy but im not going to try one.
Thank you all for your replies.