BBC article : Sharks swim closer to extinction

More than half of the world's ocean-going sharks are at risk of extinction, a new analysis concludes.

Specialists with IUCN (formerly the World Conservation Union) found that 11 species are on the high-risk list, with five more showing signs of decline.

Sharks are particularly affected by over-fishing as they reproduce slowly.
[...]
The SSG assessed data on the 21 species of sharks and their close cousins, the rays, that swim in upper portions of the open ocean where they are exposed to fishing fleets.

Of the 21, one - the giant devilray - is assessed as Endangered, and 10 are Vulnerable.

A further five are listed as Near Threatened, which means the signs of decline are not serious enough yet to merit a full listing
[...]
Several of the bodies that regulate fisheries in international waters - the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) - have set up measures to curb shark finning, but there are different standards in place, a situation that enables fishermen to work around the regulations.

Here's the link .. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7413948.stm

I took a photo of a retail shop at the Jakarta airport selling primarily dried shark fins....some of them were huge, that had to have come from a magnificent animal.....The clerk looked over at me and I wagged my finger and took a photo.....

It's all sad...

Thanks for the info Lottie.

A sad reflection on what we are doing to the planet.

I believe education is key, you can legislate all you like but if people still want shark fin soup, someone will go out and kill sharks to provide it. If someone believes eating parts of a tiger's penis will cure them of something, and they're willing to pay for it, someone else will be willing to go out and shoot a tiger for them.

The more people who are aware and understand what's going on, the more likely there will be a change in policy by the people involved. There was a big push for "dolphin friendly tuna" a few years back, plenty of publicity and the general public started looking for "dolphin friendly" on their tuna cans. How much of a difference it made to the tuna fishing industry is open to debate, but it made a difference.

Next time you're in a restaurant somewhere offering shark fin soup and one of your friends says "I wonder what that tastes like", explain to them the problem and hopefully they won't order it. Even take a further step and explain to the restaurant that you won't be coming back as long as they have it on the menu.

There will always be some accidental catching of various species, the best bet to minimize that is to change fishing methods. I don't know the answer, but I'm sure someone can figure out how, they just need the right incentive.

However, the only way to stop the deliberate taking of sharks is to remove the market for the products.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth (2 pennies in English).

Similar story just appeared on Yahoo News:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/...faceextinction

They reference their original story as coming from;

http://www.livescience.com/environme...ic-sharks.html

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shinek

If someone believes eating parts of a tiger's penis will cure them of something, and they're willing to pay for it

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I had to read that specific bit right at the moment I took a sip of cola...now I have cola sprays over my keyboard! LOL

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lottie

I had to read that specific bit right at the moment I took a sip of cola...now I have cola sprays over my keyboard! LOL

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Sorry about that, hopefully no permanent damage, just a little stickyness!