“Shark Survivors Team up to Save Species”
By, John Helprin
A group of nine shark attack survivors who call themselves the “Global Shark Conservation for the Pew Environment Group” have set off to help protect the creatures that cost them blood, flesh, and limbs: sharks. They have confronted the U.N. about earning new protection policies about these creatures and have even tried to close what they understand as loopholes in the U.S. Legislature about the shark finning ban. Why do these victims choose to protect their potential killers? Some people in the group do it because they believe that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and that everything happens for a reason. Paul de Gelder, member of the Global Shark Conservation for the Pew Environment Group, chose to help protect these creatures because "we have an obligation to protect and maintain the natural balance of our delicate ecosystems."
One third of all shark species are endangered, or are almost threatened. This is mainly because of all the finning that occurs throughout the world. Finning is when fishermen cuts off a sharks fins and sells them for hundreds of dollars per pound at the market. Then, they throw the shark back into the water to bleed to death or drown. About 73 million sharks are killed this way every year. More than a decade ago, some 130 nations said that they would instill a shark management plan, although only about 40 actually thought one up and went through with it.
In my opinion, this is a great thing that this group of people is doing for the sharks. Everyone is always so concerned with land dwelling animals, exotic fish, and things of that nature, but rarely will anyone stand up and try to help the sharks. These creatures are immensely powerful in the sea, their natural habitat, but are usually helpless when a fisherman intending on hurting them comes along. I know that if I were in any one of these nine people’s situations that I would have mixed emotions: anger, sadness, awe, respect, and many more. Even so, I know I would help to protect the sharks because I was in their habitat, and they had every right to attack me. Just because they attacked me when I was in their environment doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t help to protect the sharks. Over all, I think that this is a great group of people who are doing amazing things to protect something that they really care about, and that is something to respect.
Questions:
1. Will most sharks become extinct in the near future if fishermen keep finning them at the same rate that they are now?
2. Will this group make an impact on someone trying to donate money to protecting a group of wildlife?
3. Do you agree or disagree with what this group is trying to accomplish? What are your opinions on what they are doing? Explain.
4. Why did so many countries give their word that they would instill a shark management plan, but then changed their mind?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39154890/ns/us_news-environment/?Gt1=43001
Hey Lizards, its Mrs. DeLuca, Maddy could not post because she is only a follower, not an author, I posted for her. Can one of you invite if you have her email.
ReplyDeleteHey! I totally agree with you. The people were in the sharks environment and not that they did anything wrong, but they had it coming at them. Sharks are going to attack when people are disrupting their habitat. I think that its great that shark survivors are helping save the sharks because even though they were attacked, they still care about the sharks and want them to survive.The sharks didn't know any better then to attack the people since they aren't sure whether or not they were going to harm them. Obviously the fishermen are harming them and how would the sharks know whether or not some random people were going to harm them too? I think that the fisherman should stop finning the sharks and just let them be. They can make money off of other fish and leave the sharks alone.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your question, "Will most sharks become extinct in the near future if fishermen keep finning them at the same rate that they are now?". Yes, i think that sharks will become extinct, over time, if the fisherman do not either stop, or atleast don't do it as much. The more the fisherman fin the sharks, the less and less sharks there will be every day.
and sorry i dont know how to add maddy on here
ReplyDeleteThis is a great article Maddy! I love how these people are teaming up to help the animals that hurt them and are teaching a great lesson about how revenge is not always the answer. I feel that the sharks are kind of like rulers of the ocean because of their behavior, and deserve to be treated that way. Like Marisa said, the sharks don't know if the people coming in their territory are just innocent swimmers or fishermen about to kill them. However, these people do know. The innocent swimmers have admitted that they were wrong, but the fishermen keep finning the sharks for money. This is an incredible injustice and should be stopped by the countries that are still allowing it.
ReplyDeleteSo, in response to your question "Why did so many countries give their word that they would instill a shark management plan, but then changed their mind?", I think that some of these countries probably rely on the shark fins to help their economy. People pay the fishermen for the fins, and if the people buying the fins are in the restaurant business, they make food using the shark fins for even more people to buy, and the shark fins help the economy. Some other countries might not have known how to make the plan work and didn't want to spend alot of time on something that doesn't directly affect them yet. Or they might not want to crowd the legal system with people who were harming sharks when there are people doing bad things in their country that are more pressing issues.
If Maddy gives me her email address I can try to add her as an author but I'm not quite sure I know how.
ReplyDeleteHi, nice choice of an article Maddy. I am in complete agreement with your opinion. I do think that this could have a positive impact. i however do not think that this impact will be very large. If people were going to donate money to saving animals from extinction, they most likely wouldn't donate to sharks, because most people fear just the thought of sharks. And because of their fear they most likely would rather donate money to more gentle organisms.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question "Will most sharks become extinct in the near future if fishermen keep finning them at the same rate that they are now?". Yes I do think that most sharks will become extinct. Some sharks, like the great white, will not become extinct due to their size and power. they probably wont be able to be caught by a fisherman. I fear however, that most sharks will die off if sharks continue to be hunted and killed at this rate.
Hello again everybody. I agree with what Kyle was saying about what people will donate to. Many people in this world are frightened of these large, graceful creatures and do not want to preserve them. Good point, Kyle.
ReplyDeleteOK I think I know how to add Maddy as an author. I looked it up in the blogger help thing, and it says administrators can add and remove team members. Annemarie is probably the only administrator because she's the one who created the blog, so she will have to go through the add authors thing again and add Maddy. I would do it, but I'm not an administrator!
ReplyDeletehello everybody! I agree with everything you what everyone had said so far. Finning is a horrible thing to do to a shark. I cant believe some people would actually think of doing that to a shark. This group is doing such a great thing.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question, "Will this group make an impact on someone trying to donate money to protecting a group of wildlife?" I believe that they will make an impact. If someone sees what this group of people is trying to do, they will realize that sharks are an important animal to donate to.
As to adding maddie, i know how to and will do it if I were given her email address.
Hey guys! I know I'm the "poster" this week, but I really wanted to respond to your comments! Thank you so much for working with my blog issues, and thank you so much, Mrs. DeLuca, for poasting it for me! you all had great feedback, and i value your opinions. I'm so glad you liked the article!
ReplyDeleteMaddy, i added you as an author. Let me know if it worked.
ReplyDelete