News bite: Shark Week on Discovery Channel

Get the facts, dispel the myths

Posted by Andrew Sharpless (Guest Contributor) at 4:52 PM on 31 Jul 2007

Read more about: oceans | wildlife

shark Did you know you're more likely to die from a falling coconut than a shark bite? It's true.

Sharks kill an average of five people annually, which is unfortunate to say the least. But when you think about the tens of millions of sharks that are killed each year for their fins, meat, liver oil, and hides, it's easy to see people are a bigger threat to sharks than sharks are to people.

All this week the Discovery Channel will broadcast special programming about these misunderstood masters of the underwater universe. Some of the footage is extraordinarily compelling. Viewers should remember that they need more protection from us than the reverse.

For story: News bite: Shark Week on Discovery Channel
4 Comments | Post a Comment

amen

Amen, Andrew. I fish in the Atlantic to put protein on the table, but I will not fish for shark or buy it at the market.

The Orion Grassroots Network: 1,200+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more

by Erik Hoffner at 7:34 AM on 01 Aug 2007

Tournaments

I am glad that many tournaments have closed their entries for sharks, a growing sign of awareness. Many offshore tourneys do not even count them for points, released or not. I like that. /sammie

Onward through the fog

by Sam Wells at 7:58 AM on 01 Aug 2007

Some tournaments still killing sharks

There are still dozens of shark killing tournaments on the west, east and Gulf coasts in the U.S. and in Nova Scotia, Canada. The Monster Shark Tournament in Martha's Vineyard is one of the worst. This one and others still target porbeagle sharks, which are critically endangered, though fortunately the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) is currently proposing to add them to the prohibited species list. Most tournaments also kill mako and thresher sharks, which are both listed as "threatened" by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

Though shark finning is responsible for the majority of shark deaths by humans, I still think the U.S. and Canadian governments should do more to crack down on the recreational/trophy killing of shark species that are in great decline.

In regards to shark finning, I was horrified to see shark fin soup on the menu at a restaurant in Chinatown a few months ago. Anybody have experience or advice on getting shark fins off the menu at restaurants near you?

by amc89 at 9:18 AM on 01 Aug 2007

I caught a couple of those shows

Pretty good. I liked the scene where a sea turtle bites the shark and the one where the shark eats the camera man's $5,000 camera. Who needs real sharks? This could all have been computer animated for a fraction of the cost.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 8:13 AM on 02 Aug 2007

ADVERTISING POLICY

You are not logged in. Thus, you cannot post a comment. If you have an account, log in. If you don't have an account, well, by all means go make one! Meet you back here in five.