Oceanic whitetip close to extinction
- added June 26, 2008
- 5 responses
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- jefftego
- added this
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"Fears that some species of sharks could soon be wiped out entirely have intensified with the recent report that the oceanic whitetip shark has become extinct in the Gulf of Mexico.
Research by Dalhousie University of Halifax in Canada, suggests that the oceanic whitetip shark in the Gulf of Mexico has suffered at the hands of longline tuna fisheries to the point that populations are now just 1% of figures recorded in 1950.
Before the advent of commercial fishing techniques the oceanic whitetip was considered to be the most common large shark in the world.
Crisis Key advisor to Bite-Back, Ian Blacker, said: “This news is yet another example of commercial greed and ignorance wreaking havoc on nature. What’s worse is the situation appears to be replicated across the globe.”
It proves to be a credible concern as this recent research adds to earlier findings that illustrate the massive decline in numbers of large shark species.
Covering the same period, the research team also revealed that stocks of silky sharks in the Gulf of Mexico have declined by around 90%.
Professor Ransom Myers at Dalhousie University said: "Sharks are in a global extinction crisis. Wherever you look around the world the story is the same.”
The research team has linked the increase in longline fishing for tuna with the decrease in numbers of oceanic whitetips and silky sharks in the Gulf of Mexico. Often a by-catch of longline fishing boats, theses sharks have been landed for their valuable fins to supply the increasing demand for shark fin soup.
Bite-Back, the UK’s fastest growing shark and marine conservation organisation, is working to expose the correlation between the demand for shark meat and fins and the decimation of shark populations and encourage a significant fall in consumer and retail demand.
Currently 270,000 sharks are killed worldwide everyday to keep up with consumer demand.
Graham Buckingham, campaign director at Bite-Back, said: “Except for the oceans, there is no other place on earth where the decimation of an entire species would be allowed to go unchallenged. It is our opinion that restaurants and retailers that sell shark meat and fins are effectively endorsing the extinction of these creatures. It has to stop".”
Research by Dalhousie University of Halifax in Canada, suggests that the oceanic whitetip shark in the Gulf of Mexico has suffered at the hands of longline tuna fisheries to the point that populations are now just 1% of figures recorded in 1950.
Before the advent of commercial fishing techniques the oceanic whitetip was considered to be the most common large shark in the world.
Crisis Key advisor to Bite-Back, Ian Blacker, said: “This news is yet another example of commercial greed and ignorance wreaking havoc on nature. What’s worse is the situation appears to be replicated across the globe.”
It proves to be a credible concern as this recent research adds to earlier findings that illustrate the massive decline in numbers of large shark species.
Covering the same period, the research team also revealed that stocks of silky sharks in the Gulf of Mexico have declined by around 90%.
Professor Ransom Myers at Dalhousie University said: "Sharks are in a global extinction crisis. Wherever you look around the world the story is the same.”
The research team has linked the increase in longline fishing for tuna with the decrease in numbers of oceanic whitetips and silky sharks in the Gulf of Mexico. Often a by-catch of longline fishing boats, theses sharks have been landed for their valuable fins to supply the increasing demand for shark fin soup.
Bite-Back, the UK’s fastest growing shark and marine conservation organisation, is working to expose the correlation between the demand for shark meat and fins and the decimation of shark populations and encourage a significant fall in consumer and retail demand.
Currently 270,000 sharks are killed worldwide everyday to keep up with consumer demand.
Graham Buckingham, campaign director at Bite-Back, said: “Except for the oceans, there is no other place on earth where the decimation of an entire species would be allowed to go unchallenged. It is our opinion that restaurants and retailers that sell shark meat and fins are effectively endorsing the extinction of these creatures. It has to stop".”
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"Currently 270,000 sharks are killed worldwide everyday to keep up with consumer demand."
Incredible. -
less sharks means more fish... I thought we were running low on fish?
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- Dmitri_Molotov
- 1 month ago
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because we are runing out of fish we no longer have sharks
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- OCEANSAVER
- 1 month ago
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Just trying to keep a little optimism here. :/
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- Dmitri_Molotov
- 1 month ago
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