Very Bad News

[djanni]

If we knew the facts I think we would react. I would! What are the FACTS?

I would try to do something and I'm usually one of the last who would ever get behind such efforts. I'm a Republican, a Conservative and a Capitalist who believes in the free enterprise system. One who would say "who the hell do we think we are that we can tell people what they can and can't eat?"

For me the real issue is the data. Who believes the data? The facts and figures are often doubious and without scientific basis. Many times the studies conflict. They're often provided by groups such as GP or EarthCorp so they are, in my mind, suspect to begin with. They're probably biased. They're often emotionalized and sensationalized to the point it's a turn off.

However, I don't think we should let finning and/or fishing wipeout the seas shark population. Convienced of the facts I would try to help. Convienced we'll wipe out the shark population in XX years if finning continues I would support stationing gun ships in International waters around Japan and blowing their ships out of water if they try to fin a shark in International waters. I would laugh my butt off as they savor their last cup of shark fin soup taken from their own waters.

Fact's, we need the fact's. I just hope we become knowledgable of the facts while there's still time to react.

 

[DeepBlueResort]

Hi

Don Janni the very first post in this thread are fact from one of the most respected people in the industry, also ask most long time divers they will say ....where have all the sharks gone

One thing that does give me hope is the young, this was a letter to a website from a 14 yr old about why a large pregnant Hammerhead was killed

Sharks get no respect
>
>
>I am a 14-year-old boy and a 9th-grade student at Braden River High School. At our school, we have 12 character/education traits, one of which is "respect," as in respect for life on Earth. This includes hammerhead sharks.
>
>I saw the picture of the pregnant hammerhead shark that was caught off Boca Grande recently. The shark had 55 pups. All 56 sharks perished because the fisherman wanted to have a record catch.
>
>The Web site that is called www.sharksurvivor.com states that there have been 33 hammerhead shark attacks since 1580, with no deaths.
>
>I do not understand why this shark was caught. Why couldn't she have been released? Where is the respect for all of Earth's creatures? Let's change the rules to protect such creatures, thereby protecting us all.
>
>James Hunt
>
>Sarasota

 

[MantaRey]

Reeducation is certainly an option, but it does take time.

Only took a couple years for those cultural anthropologists.

(And for people like me who need an income from somewhere, it also takes some money... if ya got some, I'll go down there too.... )

Money? What's that?

(Mine either, but you must live somehow; do you work, or do you have massive savings, or grants? Just wondering. There are so many things for which I'd love to volunteer, but I must work instead....)

Who says you have to work so much? I work enough to cover my lovely dive gear and travel. Projects like above I travel on generous grants. Even than it takes much less than you'd think. For my six week project in ecuador I spent $500. It would've been much less if I didn't drink so much! LOL

But seriously. As I said before money doesn't dictate my life. I do what I have to do to do the stuff I WANT to do. I don't need a fancy new car, huge house, I can eat the cheepest crap food. I find a way. It's easier than you think, you just have to break through the concept that having lot's of stuff = success.

You'd probably die if you knew what filmmakers like me, and even the most educated well respected scientists make for the things they do. You just have to make "sacrifices."

I'm happy, eating taco bell a lot, sleeping in tents while traveling, even in my beat up jalopy of a car (my dive gear costs more than my car) when I'm here.

The most difficult thing is living in the U.S. is ridiculously expensive. Which I'm working on by trying to permanently reestablish myself somewhere else.

 

[MantaRey]

For me the real issue is the data. Who believes the data? The facts and figures are often doubious and without scientific basis.

Don't get me started republican! ;-)

There will always be discrepancies in data. But the bottom line is always the same. They are dying. You don't need numbers to tell you that. Just ask someone who's been diving for 20 years.

Heck I'm only 22 and I've already seen impact throughout my dive career.

But you're right that you can't tell people what to do; you only allow them the option of learning, and eventually they'll make the right choice.

For example you teach both creationism and evolution as theories without any disclaimers or warnings. And the students decide for themselves which one is truer.

 

[pterantula]

Who says you have to work so much? I work enough to cover my lovely dive gear and travel. Projects like above I travel on generous grants. Even than it takes much less than you'd think. For my six week project in ecuador I spent $500.

I'm here to learn about these things...

I find a way. It's easier than you think, you just have to break through the concept that having lot's of stuff = success. You'd probably die if you knew what filmmakers like me, and even the most educated well respected scientists make for the things they do. You just have to make "sacrifices."

You're talking to a professional independent musician of 20 years here, from a family of photographers/cinematographers and writers = I can tell you the vintage of your Top Ramen by smelling it!

 

[DeepBlueResort]

MantaRey

What you say is very true, that is why I pay for researchers most cannot afford to travel.

One other thing I would like to say, it is really good that no one has got into name calling etc etc lets just keep this as a healthy debate.

Last thought the website that I mentioned earlier that is based in England called Bite Back and does do a lot of work stopping supermarkets etc from selling sharks, why hasn't any one started one like this in the USA.

Yes Shark finning has been banned in the USA but like most other places they still sell Shark fin soup, we also need to ban the importation of them.

 

[MantaRey]

I can tell you the vintage of your Top Ramen by smelling it!

:lol: than you know.

 

[MantaRey]

One other thing I would like to say, it is really good that no one has got into name calling etc etc lets just keep this as a healthy debate.

Anything that comes from me is light hearted.. I guess I should mention that beforehand heh.

Last thought the website that I mentioned earlier that is based in England called Bite Back and does do a lot of work stopping supermarkets etc from selling sharks, why hasn't any one started one like this in the USA.

I barged into one of those "health food" or "natural food" chain stores in college with a video camera asking the employees what part of "dolphin safe tuna" which was caught in thailand (said so on the same label 'dolphin safe' was printed) and the shark cartilage pills that they sold were "all natural" and "environmentally sound"

Cops were called etc, was a big mess.

Oh and I never got my answer.

P.S. this was before I knew better than to point fingers. :-D

 

[Spratman]

Jean-Michel Cousteau has a program running on PBS (the only time I've ever watched PBS) about gray sharks. He also was involved with that IMAX Sharks 3D. He has an organization geared toward preservation of all shark species.

My wife, who is a non-diver, really enjoyed the show.

http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/

http://flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/organizations/ssg/ssg.htm

 

[djanni]

MantaRey

What you say is very true, that is why I pay for researchers most cannot afford to travel.

One other thing I would like to say, it is really good that no one has got into name calling etc etc lets just keep this as a healthy debate.

Last thought the website that I mentioned earlier that is based in England called Bite Back and does do a lot of work stopping supermarkets etc from selling sharks, why hasn't any one started one like this in the USA.

Yes Shark finning has been banned in the USA but like most other places they still sell Shark fin soup, we also need to ban the importation of them.

The fact's I'm talking about would be those publicized by the US, the UN, the UK or the EU but not by BiteBack who just happens to be based in England. Being based in England doesn't give them credibility.

I think shark finning is cruel and disgusting. But then I am a product of the American Culture.

It's tough to know who to believe and when. How to react and where? I sure don't have those answers but FMAP and BiteBack are not going to get me to excited.

Yet there is usually fire where there's smoke and there's smoke. Again, and speaking for me, going beyond the current efforts by countries like the US, UK and others will take substantially more knowledge that's what is available today. IMHO.