Shark Attack Survivors Call on Senate to Ban Shark Hunting
posted by: Drew Wilson 133 days ago
This week a group of nine shark attacks survivors traveled to Washington, DC. Their goal? Lobby the US Senate for greater protection for the sharks who attacked them. Many of the survivors are missing limbs, fingers, and have other lasting injuries. Nonetheless, they see urgency in protecting these wild animals from US fishermen.
Survivors See Past Their Attacks
Chuck Anderson of Alabama was one of these survivors. In 2000 he was diving in the Gulf of Mexico, looking to get a close-up glimpse of sharks. In a sudden attack, a 7-foot bull shark slammed into him, chomped off some of his fingers, bti into his stomach and then entirely took off his right arm. He survived the attack and after doing some research concludes that he cannot blame the shark for his attack. "They're vicious, and they're mean," Anderson said in an article featured in the Washington Post, "But, you know, I don't have any right to be angry at the shark."
From Vindictive Shark Hunter to Shark Defender
Not all shark attack survivors are as understanding as Anderson. Before joining the shark protection group, one member often hunted sharks in an effort to get retribution. For years after his attack he hated sharks. He would go on fishing expeditions where he would attract sharks with bait, shoot them from his side of his boat, cook them, eat their flesh, then save their jaw bones as trophies. Now years later, he is among the group calling on the Senate to enact laws that would outlaw that very practice.
Sharks Attacking Humans, Humans Attacking Sharks
Shark attacks are very, very rare. The International Shark Attack File, based in Florida, calculated the odds: 1 in every 11.5 million beach visits result in a shark attack. Humans, on the other hand, are hunting sharks at a devasting rate.
The Goal: Outlaw Finning
The group is in DC this week to lobby the Senate for a bill that would outlaw shark "finning" in U.S. waters. Finning is a practice where fishermen sever a shark's fin and toss the rest of its carcass overboard. The fin is often sold for use in shark fin soup. The bill has already been making some headway. It passed the House of Representative. In order to become law it must pass the Senate, then be signed into law by the president.
Let's all hope this important bill moves forward.
Resources
Survivors See Past Their Attacks
Chuck Anderson of Alabama was one of these survivors. In 2000 he was diving in the Gulf of Mexico, looking to get a close-up glimpse of sharks. In a sudden attack, a 7-foot bull shark slammed into him, chomped off some of his fingers, bti into his stomach and then entirely took off his right arm. He survived the attack and after doing some research concludes that he cannot blame the shark for his attack. "They're vicious, and they're mean," Anderson said in an article featured in the Washington Post, "But, you know, I don't have any right to be angry at the shark."
From Vindictive Shark Hunter to Shark Defender
Not all shark attack survivors are as understanding as Anderson. Before joining the shark protection group, one member often hunted sharks in an effort to get retribution. For years after his attack he hated sharks. He would go on fishing expeditions where he would attract sharks with bait, shoot them from his side of his boat, cook them, eat their flesh, then save their jaw bones as trophies. Now years later, he is among the group calling on the Senate to enact laws that would outlaw that very practice.
Sharks Attacking Humans, Humans Attacking Sharks
Shark attacks are very, very rare. The International Shark Attack File, based in Florida, calculated the odds: 1 in every 11.5 million beach visits result in a shark attack. Humans, on the other hand, are hunting sharks at a devasting rate.
The Goal: Outlaw Finning
The group is in DC this week to lobby the Senate for a bill that would outlaw shark "finning" in U.S. waters. Finning is a practice where fishermen sever a shark's fin and toss the rest of its carcass overboard. The fin is often sold for use in shark fin soup. The bill has already been making some headway. It passed the House of Representative. In order to become law it must pass the Senate, then be signed into law by the president.
Let's all hope this important bill moves forward.
Resources
- care2 petition: Establish a Global Ban on Shark Finning
- Washington Post story:Survivors lend hand to sharks that bit them
Read more: animal welfare
comments
Shark Finning should be banned world-wide. It's a horrible practice. Wack on a shark's fin and throw back into the water to die - disgusting. If you wish to eat the full shark, than catch it, kill and give it the respect it deserves. As a one-time SCUBA person, I support the ban on shark finning 100%.
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Its very great to know that one who killed sharks and ate them before, is now trying to save them from the fangs of extinction. Shark attack, like mentioned above are very rare. Less than a hundred happen every year. While shark deaths, caused by humans, are countless.
Sharks play a very important role. They eat dead fish and maitain the balance. The oceans need sharks. And just because they attack one point in time, does not mean fishermen can out to the seas, the sharks' home, and kill them not even having any proof if that particular shark did the attack.
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It is indeed good to see that we are turning things around bit by bit and respecting those awesome, scary creatures
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This is amazing and heartwarming... The fact that people who have been injured by sharks, are still strong and awesome enough to actually defend them! Absolutely amazing!
While it's obvious that humankind itself is the most cruel and destructive species on the planet... It's people like these, who step above revenge and grudges, defending the sharks... that give me hope for humanity.
We're not ALL hopeless killers. These remarkable human beings are shining examples of what ALL of us could be! While humankind has fallen very low, we're all CAPABLE of so much more! Seeing this only gives me more hope that someday we can all realize our potential!
Let's of course acknowledge our shortcomings... but let's not see it as inevitable. Let's instead aim for the goal of being as thoughtful and amazing, in our actions and deeds as well as intentions, as these wonderful heroes stepping up for shark rights.
It's not hopeless. More and more things are being done for animals and the planet, slowly but surely! We've gotta keep the momentum going, and keep an eye on the world as we will someday get it to be, healed and beautiful.
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I'm with you. Lisanne. I have infinite respect for animals and very little for humans. When an animal attacks there is usually a reason, ie instinct for survival, abuse by humans. But people premeditate murder and intentionally hurt others, including innocent animals. There are very few people that I trust.
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What gets me is that when a human is attacked and/or killed by another human, we don't killing other humans for revenge. Just like when Steve Irwin was killed by the stingray, people started killing stingrays. Now when say John Lennon was killed, people didn't go around killing other people- to take their anger & upset out on them. We all need to realize that animals are not premeditating their "crimes", they are just acting out of instinct. I will never have to worry about a shark breaking into my house and killing me in my own bed, or other asinine crimes that "human beings" commit against other human beings. Just think of Charles Manson- why in the heck is he still alive???
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EVERY ANIMAL LOVER MUST SEE THIS MOVIE NARRATED BY ACTOR JOAQUIN PHOENIX:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6361872964130308142
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Good for them! Doing good from a terrible accident is healthy not only for the sharks, but for the survivors as well.
Sharks are precious creatures that deserve respect and protecting.
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The ocean belongs to the creatures who live in it. I am sorry for the people who are injured by the sharks but that is a risk taken by humans who know that they are there.Sharks are not mean. They are simply acting out of instinct.
Finning should be a criminal offense. To kill any creature for human pleasure is wrong just as murder, rape or any other crime is wrong. And, yes, I am vegan and I will tell anyone who eats animals, wears animals or uses animals for entertainment that what they are doing is wrong.
Animals cannot speak for themselves.
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We saw a news piece a few years ago that showed a film made by a helicopter flying along the Florida coastline & you could see many people out playing in the water (some waving at the helicopter) & very clearly seen, also, were many sharks circling many of the people in the water! It was really shocking but the news piece made the point of how few people are actually attacked by sharks, & often those attacks are mistakes & after the initial attack the shark leaves the human alone. To see so many people playing in the water with big, dark sharks circling around them & harming no one, was a real eye opener.
We used to swim near a dock in Key West where a mother nurse shark & her young lived & she never bothered anyone. And when we were diving at the barrier reef in Belize I encountered a shark that I couldn't identify - 8ft or more & dark charcoal color that scared me to death & sent me torpedoing back to the boat, but a while later, back in the water, the same shark swam right past my face, within touching distance, & made no threat to me whatsoever. It was a memorable experience, though.
Also near Key West, while dangling our feet in a canal we saw the distinctive head of a hammerhead shark cruising right under the surface coming toward our feet. That's one shark we didn't want to get close to & yanked our feet out of the water fast. That, we understand, is one of the 3% of sharks that will knowingly attack humans.
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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
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