sharks

100 million sharks are being killed each year /  by Richard

A recent study published in the Journal Marine Policy, highlights how 100 million sharks are being killed each year. Again most of the world’s ocean is being removed of all life!

​Yet, reported catch statistics for sharks are incomplete, and mortality estimates have not been available for sharks as a group. Here, the global catch and mortality of sharks from reported and unreported landings, discards, and shark finning are being estimated at 1.44 million metric tons for the year 2000, and at only slightly less in 2010 (1.41 million tons). Based on an analysis of average shark weights, this translates into a total annual mortality estimate of about 100 million sharks in 2000, and about 97 million sharks in 2010, with a total range of possible values between 63 and 273 million sharks per year.

The Global Ocean Commission /  by Richard

Today is The Global Ocean Commission launched, an independent body of international leaders aiming to reverse degradation of the ocean, restoring it to full health and productivity.

During 2013-14, the Commission will analyze key threats to the international waters known as the ‘high seas’, which make up almost half of the Earth’s surface but are not owned by any one country. This large proportion of the global ocean is under severe and increasing pressure from over-fishing  damage to important habitat, climate change and ocean acidi-fication.

The Commission will publish its final recommendations early in 2014, shortly before the UN General Assembly begins discussions on protecting high seas biodiversity.

I am always skeptic to this type of “high-end” gatherings, making big announcements but so little action. But hopefully this could be an initiative in the right direction, resulting in saving the seven seas.

It’s us who kills them, not the opposite /  by Richard

Research shows that the massive depletion of sharks has cascading effects throughout our oceans. Fins from up to 73 million sharks are used every year for shark fin soup, resulting in the collapse of many shark populations worldwide. An estimated 1/3 of open-ocean shark species are currently threatened with extinction, with certain populations experiencing a 99% population decline.

The process of shark finning is as cruel as it is wasteful.  Captured at sea and hauled on deck, sharks are often still alive when their fins are hacked off. 

Shark fin soup has long been a popular entree due to its association with prestige and privilege in Asian cultures, regularly served at banquets, weddings, and corporate events, the fin itself adds no flavor, nutritional, nor medicinal value.

The odds a person will die from a vending machine accident in a year are 1 in 112 million while the odds that a person will die from a shark attack in a year are 1 in 251 million. This means that a person is more than twice as likely to be killed tipping a soda machine than a shark attack.

A majestic Great Hammerhead Shark, shot by Grant Johnson

move faster... /  by Richard

Look at this very cool pic. from South Africa earlier published in Africa Geographic, BBC Wildlife and later in Paris Match and the Daily Mail. The photograph is real, no photoshop, no digital manipulation, no nothing…