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I’m sure most of you have heard about the ivory trade that kills thousands upon thousands of elephants every year, or illegal trade in Bengal tiger skins. These are tragic events among a whole host of inhuman animal trades that go on year after year.
But do you know what happens to the creatures under the water? In some ways its even more cruel. The trade in parts of marine creatures in unbelievable. To start with, 100 million sharks are killed worldwide every year. That figure is mind-boggling. But these sharks mostly aren’t getting killed for their meat. I’m sure a few of you have eaten Shark Fin soup at the local Chinese. Most of the sharks killed around the world are killed purely for their fins. The fishermen haul them up, lop off the fins with a knife, and chuck the sharks back in. The sharks are helpless. Those fins can’t grow back. They are vulnerable to attacks from other sharks, or any other marine predator. Even if they somehow evade predation, they can’t eat, having no way to steer, and they slowly starve to death.
The wings of rays are also big money. The rays most under risk are manta and eagle rays. These are two of the most beautiful creatures in the sea. Anyone else who has seen one diving will agree with me. But fishermen haul them up, chop off the wings to sell for food and throw the rays back in or leave them on the beach. A friend of mine went diving in Tobago, and he saw two of the most horrible acts of ray persecution. First, on a beach, two eagle rays were left to drown in air after a fisherman chopped off their wings and left them on the beach. These were spotted eagle rays, rare creatures whose loss cannot easily be replaced. Another time, he was driving home when he came up behind a fisherman’s truck. Across the back was dumped a gutted dolphin and a 3 metre wide manta ray. They were driving to the fish market to sell them off. Now dolphins aren’t usually fished for. No doubt they were trawling, found the dolphin caught up in the net, and killed it anyway.
Turtles are also at danger. The gentle animals, among them the Hawksbill and Green varieties – both rare, are killed and scooped out of their shells. The shells are later sold to tourists as decorations.
I realise that there’s a different side to this story. I’m not trying to place the suffering of marine animals above that of land animals. I’m also not trying to vilify the fishermen involved. Most of them are poor natives to the area, who are just trying to feed their families. The trade in marine parts is just their way of surviving. No, the problem is the tourists and Western consumers who make such a trade profitable. It’s simply cruel. The same is true of land animal poaching.
I’m not placing blame on anyone who’s eaten Shark fin soup or ray wings. Most are unaware of the truth behind what they are eating, and if you know, that’s your choice to make. I’m simply trying to make people aware of what is happening. If you know of any other stories concerning marine, or land animal slaughter, or think animals don’t matter if they can get a good Chinese meal for under £10, please post your opinions. That’s what this is for, after all.
But do you know what happens to the creatures under the water? In some ways its even more cruel. The trade in parts of marine creatures in unbelievable. To start with, 100 million sharks are killed worldwide every year. That figure is mind-boggling. But these sharks mostly aren’t getting killed for their meat. I’m sure a few of you have eaten Shark Fin soup at the local Chinese. Most of the sharks killed around the world are killed purely for their fins. The fishermen haul them up, lop off the fins with a knife, and chuck the sharks back in. The sharks are helpless. Those fins can’t grow back. They are vulnerable to attacks from other sharks, or any other marine predator. Even if they somehow evade predation, they can’t eat, having no way to steer, and they slowly starve to death.
The wings of rays are also big money. The rays most under risk are manta and eagle rays. These are two of the most beautiful creatures in the sea. Anyone else who has seen one diving will agree with me. But fishermen haul them up, chop off the wings to sell for food and throw the rays back in or leave them on the beach. A friend of mine went diving in Tobago, and he saw two of the most horrible acts of ray persecution. First, on a beach, two eagle rays were left to drown in air after a fisherman chopped off their wings and left them on the beach. These were spotted eagle rays, rare creatures whose loss cannot easily be replaced. Another time, he was driving home when he came up behind a fisherman’s truck. Across the back was dumped a gutted dolphin and a 3 metre wide manta ray. They were driving to the fish market to sell them off. Now dolphins aren’t usually fished for. No doubt they were trawling, found the dolphin caught up in the net, and killed it anyway.
Turtles are also at danger. The gentle animals, among them the Hawksbill and Green varieties – both rare, are killed and scooped out of their shells. The shells are later sold to tourists as decorations.
I realise that there’s a different side to this story. I’m not trying to place the suffering of marine animals above that of land animals. I’m also not trying to vilify the fishermen involved. Most of them are poor natives to the area, who are just trying to feed their families. The trade in marine parts is just their way of surviving. No, the problem is the tourists and Western consumers who make such a trade profitable. It’s simply cruel. The same is true of land animal poaching.
I’m not placing blame on anyone who’s eaten Shark fin soup or ray wings. Most are unaware of the truth behind what they are eating, and if you know, that’s your choice to make. I’m simply trying to make people aware of what is happening. If you know of any other stories concerning marine, or land animal slaughter, or think animals don’t matter if they can get a good Chinese meal for under £10, please post your opinions. That’s what this is for, after all.
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RastaBillySkank wrote:
> I'd never dive with sharks, I have a phobia of them. But that
> doesn't stop me being absolutely fascinated by the
> creatures.
Go on, try scuba diving. Its the most amazing sport, if it is a sport, in the world. And sharks are quite hard to find, which goes back to the original topic, but... There are things under the water than make land animals look dull. Stingrays, batfish, snapper, moray eels...
> I'd never dive with sharks, I have a phobia of them. But that
> doesn't stop me being absolutely fascinated by the
> creatures.
Go on, try scuba diving. Its the most amazing sport, if it is a sport, in the world. And sharks are quite hard to find, which goes back to the original topic, but... There are things under the water than make land animals look dull. Stingrays, batfish, snapper, moray eels...
RBS - That's not strictly true. Swordfish and tuna are highly expensive in this country. I don't know what the prices are like in places like USA, but the fact it that these people can make money with oceanic fish. That they choose reef fish is just due to the demand. If they realised that they could make money with other fish right on their own doorstep, then they might reconsider what they do for a 'living'. It still disgusts me - the sheer brutality of what they do.
I'd never dive with sharks, I have a phobia of them. But that doesn't stop me being absolutely fascinated by the creatures.
Anyway... Err.. but if they don't comply with the market then how are they gonna feed their families?
As various people once said, Resistance is futile!
Anyway... Err.. but if they don't comply with the market then how are they gonna feed their families?
As various people once said, Resistance is futile!
The markets are always going to be there. That doesn't mean everyone has to comply with them. Alternatives are possible. Government protection sanctions can be issued, and its possible to have natural parks, like on land, centred around densely populated coral reefs and breeding grounds. If the fishermen realised what they were doing and the impact it was having on their local habitats, they might re-consider. I accept its unlikely, and without the education that is needed to show the natives what they are doing, its going to continue, but without change, we;ll have no sharks and rays left. And ther'll be nothing for me to dive with *sob*
RastaBillySkank wrote:
> GasMask wrote:
Stryke. Welcome.
He's been here ages, Gaz!!!
Right.....
Sorry....
Im Not very good, ask RBS :-D
> GasMask wrote:
Stryke. Welcome.
He's been here ages, Gaz!!!
Right.....
Sorry....
Im Not very good, ask RBS :-D
I agree with that Stryke. Oceanic fish are just as sought after and are better for the oceanic eco-system (Woah! Big word!) but unfrotuneatly, the prices aren't as high for oceanic fish than they are for rarer creatures like Sharks and Rays.
At the end of the day, you can limit the poaching of endangered fish but you can never wipe it out fully. The reason the animals are sought after IS BECAUSE they are rare. As goaty said in another thread, death sells. And that's exactly what's happening.
That's just the way life goes. There's only so much we can do.
At the end of the day, you can limit the poaching of endangered fish but you can never wipe it out fully. The reason the animals are sought after IS BECAUSE they are rare. As goaty said in another thread, death sells. And that's exactly what's happening.
That's just the way life goes. There's only so much we can do.
Yes, but they're going to get more for the shark fin and the manta ray wing, because of the demand for it in the West. Marine slaughter is linked back to the demand in the west for it. If one fisherman refused to, because it was morally wrong, others would still continue to. Without the demand it wouldn't happen.
I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying it's understandable and you can't attack the fishermen for causing the problem, because it isn't their fault. More then that, getting rid of all the fishermen will not solve the problem. The only way to solve the problem is to get rid of the market for the products.
I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying it's understandable and you can't attack the fishermen for causing the problem, because it isn't their fault. More then that, getting rid of all the fishermen will not solve the problem. The only way to solve the problem is to get rid of the market for the products.
lol @ RBS
Iguana wrote:
> There probably are, but they're a great deal tougher. The land is
> unsuitable for growing crops. Besides, if some western was going to
> pay you lots of money for catching some fish and with that money you
> could feed your families etc. What would you do?
They don't have to kill sharks mindlessly. There are other ways. They can fish for oceanic fish, like tuna and swordfish, in an evironment that is replenishable. The Maldives has easy access to deeper waters, and they have able and sturdy fishing boats, called dhoni's, that are well suited for oceanic fishing.
Also, surely its the concern of everyone that species are becoming endangered? Huge efforts are being made to stop the poaching on elephants and tigers, but nothing like as much time and money is being spent on the conservation of the marine world.
> There probably are, but they're a great deal tougher. The land is
> unsuitable for growing crops. Besides, if some western was going to
> pay you lots of money for catching some fish and with that money you
> could feed your families etc. What would you do?
They don't have to kill sharks mindlessly. There are other ways. They can fish for oceanic fish, like tuna and swordfish, in an evironment that is replenishable. The Maldives has easy access to deeper waters, and they have able and sturdy fishing boats, called dhoni's, that are well suited for oceanic fishing.
Also, surely its the concern of everyone that species are becoming endangered? Huge efforts are being made to stop the poaching on elephants and tigers, but nothing like as much time and money is being spent on the conservation of the marine world.
*Goes and finds fisherman, lops off his arms, chucks him in the sea and laughs with glee as he realises he's just lobbed Harold Bishop from Neighbours in the sea*
:-D
:-D
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