Archive for October, 2009
Save Our SharksThings are really bad when you see things that happen like in this video. Sharks are being killed at alarming rates around the world mostly to supply the demands for shark fin soup in the East. This situation needs to change quickly if we want to have any chance of saving our sharks before they’re gone forever.
Save Our Sharks from Save Our Seas Foundation on Vimeo.
Well, it’s happened once again. Discovery Channel is broadcasting Sharkweek. Unfortunately, I’m not excited about this.
First, the previews seem to paint sharks in the typical villain role. Maybe it’s a way to get us to watch but it really sends the wrong message. Sharks have more to fear from us than we do from them. There have been several documentaries over the last few years, namely Sharkwater, which document this.
The show also seems to focus on the handful of species that can and have been known to attack people. There are thousands of species of sharks which are incapable of inflicting any major harm on humans. And they aren’t interested because we’re to big for them to eat. But the handful that fill an important niche in the ocean ecosystem – killing and eating larger prey – are focused on because they sometimes attack people.
There are many of us here in Korea who have dove with the sharks at the Busan Aquarium. Mike Jones of Scubainkorea.com takes both certified and non-certified divers in the Aquarium for 30 minutes with large Sand Tigers, Lemon Sharks, Leopard Sharks and Rough Out Dog Fish. Twenty animals in all not to mention Pauly, the Grouper, the sting Rays, and the Snappers and Yellow Fin that the Lemon Sharks refuse to eat (much to the dismay of the accountants at the aquarium).
Participants go in for a variety of reasons. Most come out with the same conclusion; sharks are cool. For a large percentage of these people, this is the final reason they need to get certified if they’re not already.
That’s a conservation message. Wouldn’t it be nice if Discovery Channel took the same approach?
Waiting to Dive
Well, Beth and Devin finished up. I know this post is overdue, but better late than never. Beth went with us twice since being certified and Devin once. They are both going to Jeju on Columbus Day for their first tropical experience.
Congratulations guys.