TAKE ACTION TO END SHARK TOURNAMENT IN MARTHA'S VINEYARD
A message from Eleanor
Martha’s Vineyard is the quintessential New England vacation destination, complete with quaint villages, charming harbors, and gorgeous beaches. People seeking respite have flocked to the island for generations to be greeted by friendly Vineyarders, whose economy depends on the seasonal influx of tourists.
But the idyllic island image cloaks a sinister ritual sanctioned by local officials. Each summer, entrants in the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament hook sharks; bleed, suffocate, or repeatedly gaff them; and string them up on docks in gruesome, sometimes mocking displays—all for prizes and gory glory. Last year in 2005, some 240 boats killed approximately 2,500 sharks in the span of 3 days.
Mass shark killing contests are not only cruel, but they also target members of already imperiled populations of slow breeding and ecologically important shark species. Like whales, most species of sharks reproduce late in life—some are as old as 20 years—and give birth to few young. It can take decades for populations to recover from being killed in large numbers by fishermen.
Most shark populations are already in jeopardy. A study reported in the journal Science in 2003 estimated that all recorded shark species, with the exception of Makos, have declined by more than 50% in the previous 8 to 15 years. The situation remains dire, despite recent international efforts to protect shark species.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has assessed the conservation status of 62 species of sharks. Of these, 21 were classified as "endangered"—meaning they face a very high risk of extinction in the near future—or "vulnerable"—meaning they face a high risk of extinction in the not so distant future. The other 31 species were ranked "near threatened," indicating that their status is approaching "vulnerable."
Of the 15 shark species found in New England, home of the Monster Shark Tournament, the IUCN has classified the Smooth Dogfish as critically endangered and the White Shark as endangered. Three other species are considered vulnerable and eight are near-threatened. The population data on the remaining two species is insufficient to evaluate their conservation status.
ESPN Aggrandizes the Tournament
In 2004 and 2005, ESPN broadcast the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament as if it were a legitimate sport. Many in the nation were appalled and called on ESPN to stop aggrandizing the cruelty. The network refused.
ESPN and The Boston Big Game Fish Club has its 20th Annual tournament scheduled for July 20–22, 2006 and ESPN plans to broadcast it.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/463138991
Martha’s Vineyard is the quintessential New England vacation destination, complete with quaint villages, charming harbors, and gorgeous beaches. People seeking respite have flocked to the island for generations to be greeted by friendly Vineyarders, whose economy depends on the seasonal influx of tourists.
But the idyllic island image cloaks a sinister ritual sanctioned by local officials. Each summer, entrants in the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament hook sharks; bleed, suffocate, or repeatedly gaff them; and string them up on docks in gruesome, sometimes mocking displays—all for prizes and gory glory. Last year in 2005, some 240 boats killed approximately 2,500 sharks in the span of 3 days.
Mass shark killing contests are not only cruel, but they also target members of already imperiled populations of slow breeding and ecologically important shark species. Like whales, most species of sharks reproduce late in life—some are as old as 20 years—and give birth to few young. It can take decades for populations to recover from being killed in large numbers by fishermen.
Most shark populations are already in jeopardy. A study reported in the journal Science in 2003 estimated that all recorded shark species, with the exception of Makos, have declined by more than 50% in the previous 8 to 15 years. The situation remains dire, despite recent international efforts to protect shark species.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has assessed the conservation status of 62 species of sharks. Of these, 21 were classified as "endangered"—meaning they face a very high risk of extinction in the near future—or "vulnerable"—meaning they face a high risk of extinction in the not so distant future. The other 31 species were ranked "near threatened," indicating that their status is approaching "vulnerable."
Of the 15 shark species found in New England, home of the Monster Shark Tournament, the IUCN has classified the Smooth Dogfish as critically endangered and the White Shark as endangered. Three other species are considered vulnerable and eight are near-threatened. The population data on the remaining two species is insufficient to evaluate their conservation status.
ESPN Aggrandizes the Tournament
In 2004 and 2005, ESPN broadcast the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament as if it were a legitimate sport. Many in the nation were appalled and called on ESPN to stop aggrandizing the cruelty. The network refused.
ESPN and The Boston Big Game Fish Club has its 20th Annual tournament scheduled for July 20–22, 2006 and ESPN plans to broadcast it.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/463138991
rudkla - 22. Mai, 22:21
