The Conservation Report

SHARK WEEK: Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament: Sport or slaughter?

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7 Responses to 'SHARK WEEK: Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament: Sport or slaughter?'

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1. A great tradition and its gonna stay so get used to it

   

   A Tradition

   20 Jul 08 at 10:38 am
2. SHARKS ARE A THING OF MYSTERY. WHEN PEOPLE HEAR OF SHARKS THEY ARE STRUCK WITH FEAR AND AWE. THE TOURNAMENT IS NOT A SENCELESS KILLING SPREE OF SHARKS. RESEARCH IS DONE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHARKS, HENCE NOT WASTED. THIS WILL HELP US TO DETERMINE HOW TO CONSERVE THIS SPECIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. HAVE YOU SEEN THE SENCELESS KILLINGS OF SHARKS THAT TAKES PLACE IN JAPAN?? CATCHING A SHARK AND TAKING ITS FIN THEN DISPOSING OF THE LIVE SHARK BACK INTO THE OCEAN. THIS IS CRUEL AND INHUMANE. IF YOU ASK ANYONE OF THOSE CAPT.’S OF THE BOATS AND THEY WIILL TELL YOU THE SAME. THE CAPT.’S ARE THE TRUE CONSERVATIONISTS. FIND A HOBBY LADY, TRY FISHING ITS VERY RELAXING.

   

   SCIENCE

   21 Jul 08 at 9:54 am
3. Although shark-fishing tournaments are popular, I think the biggest problem facing the tournaments is a public image issue. Essentially, a culture war is occurring, and the dissent is growing larger, louder, and more powerful than the shark-fishing tournaments. The dissent isn’t uniform, but it is a credible dissent nonetheless. For example, some argue that shark-fishing tournaments provide absolutely no utility. Others argue that any utility provided is outweighed by the need to stop shark fishing altogether, and some are disgusted with how the sharks are treated or presented at the tournaments.

   Psychologically, shark fishing as a sport provides entertainment and a chance to be on the ocean. As a result, culturally the tournaments are important, but the wonderment factor and educational opportunities are perhaps the biggest wins for shark-fishing tournaments. I think tradition is the weakest argument for shark-fishing tournaments to make, because circumstances and reality do change, so traditions are often abandoned. Furthermore, although there is a chance to gather scientific information and resources for food banks, these arguments are refutable.

   Spectators that do favor shark-fishing tournaments for the curiosity factor do argue that these tournaments intentionally or unintentionally treat animals disrespectfully. As one spectator notes about the annual Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament: “My stomach churned each time I watched a fisherman or tourist sidle up alongside a blue shark (its stomach protruding from its once formidable jaws) for a photo op [and] the gaffing, the kicking and the hooting and hollering and other man-ish gestures seem superfluous once the animals have been subdued (they are all dead upon reaching the dock) [since] they are beautiful creatures, and perhaps our race could evolve a little bit further by treating them as such.” At the time, this witness supported shark-fishing tournaments and probably still does. However, she provides an objective observation that the management of these tournaments should consider.

   Arguably, even people that fear sharks will respect the animals for what they are: A top predator that has evolved into a seemingly perfect hunting machine. As a result, the reduction of these amazing animals to anything less will result in distaste for the sport.

   The Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament is already facing opposition from locals and groups like the Humane Society, which have significant resources at their disposal to fight and gain support for their agenda. Furthermore, shark-fishing tournaments are already being shut down, so if I were organizing one of these tournaments, I would be proactive by taking measures that introduce rules to address the contentious issues, instead of throwing fuel on a culture war that I could conceivably lose. Another idea might be maximizing the scientific data that these tournaments gather. If they don’t already, shark-fishing tournaments should consider carrying a recreational shark fisheries observer or pay for certain types of research.

   It is time for shark-fishing tournaments to set rules that comport with the times. I am not arguing that such rules do not already exist nor am I necessarily supporting the end of shark-fishing tournaments, but something is going wrong and issues still need resolving.

   Times are different. Historically, certain land species such as those from the family Rhinocerotidae were hunted for recreation, sport, and thrill. However, rhinos for many reasons are unfortunately more rare than they once were. The landscapes, which they depend, have changed due to anthropogenic influences or pressures. Likewise, oceans are not as prolific as they once were, and perhaps some shark species cannot sustain any type of fishing pressure. The tournaments should stop resisting change, and stop assuming that tradition alone will save their tournaments, because yesterday isn’t today.

   

   buckdenton

   21 Jul 08 at 2:08 pm
4. get a grip < ill kill every shark in the water

   

   Anonymous

   21 Jul 08 at 3:52 pm
5. Focus on international long lining and Japanese fisheries cutting the fins off while the shark sinks to the bottom of the ocean unable to move. One or two tournaments a year is not the problem. Go lobby the government for international protection of fish instead of wasting your energy on sport fisherman.

   

   focus

   21 Jul 08 at 7:02 pm
6. Commercial fishing, shark fining and Japanese fisheries are different issues but important ones. Those issues suggest themes of overfishing and waste. Certainly, unsustainable commercial fishing of sharks and bycatch problems threaten recreational fishing interests.

   However, I was focusing on why some people have a problem with shark-fishing tournaments or perceive them as inhumane. It’s a legitimate discussion to have. Is there a public image problem or not, and if there is what are possible remedies.

   

   buckdenton

   21 Jul 08 at 8:11 pm
7. Is it just as bad to fish for Walleye? I fish and eat Walleye all the time. We caught a good size Thresher shark, gave his tail and stuff to Science as asked…and the rest was cut up into good steaks.

   

   JMAC

   28 Jul 08 at 7:39 am

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