• Licensed shark fishing in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The Great Barrier Reef is a delicate ecosystem and one of the world’s most important marine protected areas. Shark fishing should be off-limits within the entire Great Barrier Reef area because sharks are critical to a healthy reef ecosystem.
  
  
• Creation of a dedicated shark fishing industry. There is no reason to believe that establishing new licenses for shark fishing will result in improved sustainability in the absence of meaningful restrictions.
  
  
• A non-enforceable catch 'trigger' of 700 tons of sharks.  The 700 tons 'trigger' matches the current level of catch, does not reflect scientifically determined levels of sustainability, and is not a true 'ceiling'. Reaching the catch trigger will not stop further shark fishing, but merely triggers a 'review'. Serious restrictions are warranted, such as a firm catch limit and enforcement.
  
  
• Fishing for threatened or endangered shark species.  Only 4 species are protected by this proposal while 28 Australian shark species are listed by the IUCN's Red List or Australia's EPBC as endangered or threatened. To allow fishing of 24 species that are nearing extinction is by definition unsustainable and irresponsible.

Strong protection of sharks is good for Australia

1. Sharks will take decades to recover from a wrong bet on a 'catch trigger'. It is reckless to set a catch trigger at the current high level without evidence of sustainability. Sharks take years to recover from over-fishing because they mature and reproduce slowly.
   
   
2. Depletion of sharks hurts other commercial and recreational fishing. Mounting evidence indicates that elimination of sharks produces dramatic and undesirable effects further down the food chain. For example, the mid-Atlantic region of the United States lost its scallop industry due to the over-fishing of sharks in that area (R.A. Meyers, et al, 2007).
   
   
3. Australia should not be known as the country that allowed commercial interests to destroy the Great Barrier Reef. Countries with less economic means, such as Ecuador and Costa Rica, have banned fishing of all sharks in their marine reserves of Galapagos and Cocos, respectively. They understand that sharks are rapidly disappearing and the vital role that sharks play for the health of the reefs and its tourist industry (J. Bascompte, et al, 2005). Australia is widely recognized for its environmental stewardship and should not sanction a shark fishery in the Great Barrier Reef.
   
   
4. Shark diving tourism: a live shark is worth more than a dead one. South African studies show that sharks attract divers from around the world who bring significant sustaining economic benefit. Each shark may be responsible for as much as USD 280,000 to the economy over its lifetime due to shark diving, but only $140 when fished. (L. Rochat, 2008; M.L. Dicken, et al, 2008; M. Hara, 2003). Depletion of sharks and disruption of the ecosystem threatens diving and eco-tourism, from which Australia benefits greatly.
   
   
5. Protecting sharks will enhance Australia's environmental image. Australia should take the opportunity to stand for rescuing remaining shark populations by providing a safe refuge in the Great Barrier Reef. Enabling fisheries to cash in on the last remaining sharks is short-sighted and will result in lasting damage to the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem.
   

We join the growing number of people who are outraged by the continued exploitation of the Great Barrier Reef and its shark populations. At a time when many of the environmental challenges we face seem insurmountable, Australia can easily solve this problem. The world will be watching. We call upon the Australian government to take the lead and protect sharks so that one of the world's most treasured ecosystems and the species key to ocean health can continue to thrive.

The time to act is now, before Australia loses its shark population, jeopardizes its lucrative tourism industry, and forever tarnishes its stature is an environmental leader

We urge Australia to:
--ban ALL shark fishing immediately throughout the entire the Great Barrier Reef area
--establish sustainable catch limits  elsewhere that are based on sound research
--vigorously enforce those policies. 

References:

Please review the references so that you can take an informed position.

"In recent years, concerns have been raised over the sustainability of shark stocks, both nationally and internationally. Assessments of chondrichthyan stocks (sharks, rays and chimeras) have identified specific areas of concern. Within Australasian and Oceania waters, 10 of the 216 chondrichthyan species assessed are recognised as critically endangered or endangered, and a further 24 recognised as vulnerable. Stock collapses in Australia and overseas over the years have been well documented (Musick 2004). However, there have also been successful shark fisheries in Australia where research and management have been effective, for example, gummy sharks (Mustelus antarcticus) through appropriate regulation of mesh size in the gillnet fishery and dusky sharks (Carcharhinus obscurus) through limited catches of selected year classes. Fishery collapses not only bring economic hardship, but may result in adverse impacts on ecosystems. Sharks are top level predators and play an extremely important role in the ecosystem by regulating populations of prey species. The removal of top level predators can also have unexpected lower order effects on non-prey species."
The Queensland East Coast Inshore Fin Fish Fishery Background paper: Sharks and rays, The State of Queensland, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries 2006

Have Your Say: Summary of proposed changes, Queensland, Australia DPI&F

Have Your Say: Regulatory Impact Statement and draft Public Benefit Test, Queensland, Australia DPI&F

“The minimum change in mortality necessary to produce a median estimated population growth rate of 1.0 (i.e., population stability) was calculated for each species.  Analyses indicate that reductions in annual mortality by one-third (36%) for the whitetip shark and one half (49%) for the gray reef shark would be required to halt these ongoing declines.  However, with commercial catches of sharks nearly quadrupling on the Great Barrier Reef between 1994 and 2003, and recreational fishing also removing large numbers of sharks in Australia, the trend is strongly in the opposite direction.”
Robbins, W. D., Hisano, M., Connolly, S. R., and Choat, J. H.  2006.  Ongoing collapse of coral-reef shark populations.  Current Biology 16: 2314-2319

J. Bascompte, C. J. Melia, and E. Sala, Research Shows Overfishing of Sharks Key Factor in Coral Reef Decline, Scripps News April 11, 2005 

IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Endangered and threatened Australian sharks: speartooth shark, freshwater sawfish, great whites, grey nurse sharks, dwarf sawfish, green sawfish, white spotted guitarfish, grey reef shark, white tip reef shark, great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, eastern angel shark, eastern longnose spurdog, Harrisson’s dogfish, leafscale gulper shark, longfin mako, eastern sawshark, bronze whaler, silky shark, spinner shark, spotted eagle ray, tiger shark, whale shark, whitecheek shark, milk shark, pigeye shark, spotted wobbegong, and banded wobbegong.

References on shark diving and tourism:

Economic value of a shark statistics, L. Rochat of AfriOceans Conservation Alliance (AOCA), based on interviews with South Africa’s Marine and Coastal Management and various shark researchers.

Recreational aspects of the tiger shark diving industry within the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area, South Africa, M. L. DICKEN1 and S. G. HOSKING, pre-publication draft, 2008.

Marine-based Tourism in Gansbaai: A Socio-economic Study, M. Hara, I.Maharaj, L. Pithers, 2005.

Comments (53)

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Carla Aguilar said:

... I am from Guatemala, Central America; and I am so ashamed of the corruption of all governments, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ecuador, etc. all they receive a lot of money from the shark finning mafia. But it is so sad that countries such as Japan, Taiwan, etc. countries in Asia are importing shark fins, hell, they should chance their diet, rather than continue eating all oceans species coming from not sustainable markets. Japan has a huge record of importing illegal sea food, starting from shrimp farmed in Latin America, Bangladesh, etc... it's time also to do something about that, if there was not demand, there is no market.

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November 30, 2008
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Jacqueline said:

	SHARE THIS IN MEXICO TOO!! God created everything for a perfect reason.It seems like a nightmare seeing how we humans destroy everything we touch, I just hope one day we can change this. Congratulations to SHARKSAVERS for raising awareness, I had no idea sharks were in such danger. I urge you to share this information in MEXICO too.
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November 22, 2008
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Arvin Panganiban London, England said:

Save the Sharks! Save the World! As a government, your responsibility should not be only protecting and doing what is right for the people, but also for those that cannot speak or defend itself and yet is a vital part of the ecosystem. Any injustice in any form is STILL injustice! And killing these unsuspecting, defenseless sharks is a blatant form of injustice! And MURDER! Here is a scenario: a thief pulls a golden necklace from a girl and steals the necklace. Each time he pulls the necklace, the metal cuts her throat and she bleeds to death. This happens to every girl/boy that he steals from indefinitely... HELLO! That's exactly what you're doing to these poor sharks! Just because they can't speak for themselves you think it is okay? HELL NO! Grow a conscience, why don't you? Grow a heart! Stop this slaughter from continuing! There is more than meets the eyes when you look into these magnificent creature! They are here for a reason. They've survived longer than almost anything else in the planet. And now, we want to destroy them? Just because we can, doesn't mean we should. Might is not always right! SAVE THE SHARKS! SAVE THE WORLD!!!

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November 20, 2008
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Jade said:

... I'm so glad to see that people are actively doing something to help shark conservation. It's something I've been passionate about for years and I just can't believe that sharks are still being killed in such numbers. They are something to be celebrated, not scared of. They've been around a lot longer than us and we have no right to play God with their survival. The practice of shark fin killing makes me particularly angry. There are a million alternatives to eating shark fin soup and seeing as it has no taste is obviously eaten as a display of wealth more than anything. Protected areas are there for a reason. Surely the government is clever enough to work out that the ecological benefits of a protected zone far outweigh the financial gain of shark finning?

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November 14, 2008
Votes: +1

Shark Savers said:

... In response to the previous message: Thanks for your note, Kyra. I just want to clarify that the Australian government is not seeking to legalize shark finning. Shark Finning, the practice of cutting the fins off of a shark, often while still alive, and discarding the carcass at sea, is against the law in Australia and will remain so. There is also legal shark fishing at present in Australia, as there is in virtually every country. Our petition is in opposition to new proposals by the Queensland government that would establish a licensed shark fishery. It makes what we consider to be very modest adjustments in the current shark fishing regulations in Queensland, but calls it a sustainable shark fishery program. We don't think it's sustainable, and think the proposals must go much further to stop the current decline of shark populations. In late September of this year, the Australian government began an independent review of these proposals, and so the proposals have not been implemented. The purpose of the independent review is to determine if the proposals are in compliance with Australia's Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act of 1999. We are hopeful.

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November 06, 2008
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Kyra Cox said:

... Hello, I stumbled upon this website while doing some background investigation for a research proposal I'm writing concerning how public opinion relates to shark protection. I was pleased to see references included on this site, especially with the heading of "make an informed decision." Thank you, Shark Savers, and I hope your integrity pays off. On another note, even after all this research I've collected, I'm still horrified to see that Australia aims to LEGALIZE shark finning! In a protected area, no less! Change really is in order, and every advocate sharks can get helps their plight.

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November 05, 2008
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KLEIN Coraline said:

	Sauvons les requins Hi I'm french and passionned by marine environment. Even if I never had the opportunity to dive with white shark and another big shark, I hope that people will understand that it's very important to protect a such fish. They are very important for the ecosystem. Ce sont des animaux fantastiques et dans leur droit : la mer leur appartient, pas à nous, ne l'oublions pas !
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November 01, 2008 | url
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Pierre said:

	Save earth Following my last e-mail. Am I affraid by the sharks? Yes, I am a surfer and one of my friends was "tickled" by a shark. Is it a reason to exterminate all the sharks? No, I don't know them, how can we judge something/ someone that we don't know. Moreover if sharks are here, it is indeed that it is necessary.
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October 20, 2008
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Pierre said:

Save Earth Hello, I saw this great movie and I congratulate the team for that. Governments all around the world don't care about environment. Here in France there is the "Grenel de l'environnement" which is reflexions to bring ecology in our lifes (more than we used to have). It is better than nothing but it seems like those actions are not enough strong. Indeed, we don't care about hypride cars, we have to find radical solutions. And what about the solar energy? It's clear that it is the better energy but what about the recycling of the solar panels? I don't have any answers but I try to find solutions and that's the reason why I am on this website today. Humans are executioners that only the death corridor will make them think. But how long is the way?

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October 20, 2008
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M-C said:

I have never seen something so digusting! I just finished watching "SharkWaters" and I have never felt more infuriated in my entire life. I could not stop crying as I was watching what our civilization is doing to these poor creatures. In this documentary, WE look like monsters, not them. Men were cutting poor sharks still alive, while smiling. I have never seen something more disturbing in my entire life. I am sad and ashamed of our world. The good news, though, is that we can still make a difference...Let's make some major changes!!!

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October 20, 2008
Votes: +2

Steven Leach said:

... Please protect these beautiful and amazing creatures and help stop the destruction of our remarkable seas, that are home to such a fantastic array of living creatures and organisms. Sharks play a vital role in our ecosystems and enhance the environments in which they live. Our world and seas would be a much poorer world without them. They need protecting and that needs to happen immediately. We owe it to sharks and also to our children and future generations to conserve and to protect, both sharks and our rich seas, so that they too can appreciate and treasure this beautiful underwater world. Please make a difference by helping to save our environment and not furthering its destruction. Make a stance and do something amazing today, in an act that your children will be eternally grateful to you for.

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October 17, 2008
Votes: +0

Shanden Gagne said:

The government they don't care what wont affect them when there alive, all they want is money, but PLEASE notice not just sharks and Sea life are going extinct. and why should we be scared of sharks.. they kill by instinct. lmfao we have fucking BRAINS and we kill not only other species, WE KILL OUR OWN KIND! AND NOT LIKE ONE AT A TIME WERE TALKING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS EVEN BILLIONS, WE KILL EACH OTHER OVER NOTHING, so its more bigger then just Sharks, thats all I have to say

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October 10, 2008
Votes: +1

MSchofield said:

... I totally understand about not being proud... I am Canadian and I, for one, think that this country is hypocritical and cowardly. Every year, we condone the largest mass slaughter of marine mammals in the world. Every year, Canada allows 270,000 harp seals to be savagely killed through a commercial seal hunt. We are also one of he few countries that are not part of the International Whaling Commission under the pretext that Aboriginal rights would be greatly compromised (even though the IWC has a specific sub-commitee that addresses these type of issues) Canada also promotes the "Shark Derby" which involves hunting and killing hundreds of sharks for "biological data collection"... great huh!!!

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October 08, 2008
Votes: +2

Aussie75 said:

Shark Farming People who worry about the demise of sharks are ill informed. Our current techology can reproduce the species in shark farming communities and release certain ages into the wild thus ensuring the continuity of these species. Sharks are fish and we eat them as flakes. Over-fishing of any marine species is a worry but little is done about controlling the vastly expanding world population which will increase its pressure on world's food suplies including marine stocks. Overfishing must be stoped by all governments and replenishment of endangered stocks must be continued by strategic fish farming.

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October 04, 2008
Votes: -5

Rick Grant said:

	... What is wrong with the world today! Governments will put restrictions on other types of fishing but when it comes to sharks they don't care. When are they! When it's too late? As far as I'm concerned there should be NO shark fishing allowed anny where in this world!!!
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October 03, 2008
Votes: +0

Jacqueline said:

	... We have to save the sharks of the world. If you take out the oceans number one predator every eco-system below it will crash, causing our oceans to suffer.
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October 02, 2008
Votes: +0

Dan Goldfarb said:

	Self Employed It's sad, really when 'short term ' financial gain,threatens one of the world's greatest & most mysterious treasures. I hear shark fins have 'little ' , if 'any' flavour...so maybe Asia & other countries should be introduced to OXO cubes......
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September 30, 2008
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evan miller said:

	im twelve im only 12 but ive loved sharks for 9yrs and through out most of that time ive been trying to save sharks! Theres alot of things i shouldn't of seen and i hope to save all the sharks in the world! When grow up i want to be shark biooligest, so far in my life most of my school prgjects are about sharks or saving thm (mostly saving). I think it is just horble how people treat sharks!
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September 27, 2008
Votes: +1

Dale Friesen said:

	... Please stop this. As Australia is a member of the commonwealth, this issue can't possibly be about money. Surely this can be managed with the right leadership. Leaders, if you're being pushed, push back, everyone push; our world depends on it. Until then I too will boycot all Austrailian wines and my friends will do also. This will be rectified!
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September 22, 2008
Votes: +2

Emma and Corrie said:

	... Why does every species on our planet need to annilhate every other species on this planet why can't we all just leave each other alone and live life properly and peacefully. Lifes to short to waste.
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September 17, 2008
Votes: +2

sam casey said:

	i hate shark finners sharks are amazing wonderful creatures human have no right to kill them there not man eating beasts we are we kill anything for no reson we chop down trees made every animal on the endangered list be there humans should be the ones to pay
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September 17, 2008
Votes: +1

Sheri Lapienes said:

	... Humans will be solely responsible for the extinction of precious animals, resources and ultimately their own demise. We have the ability to turn this fate around...let's start by ending the inhumane harvesting of shark fins.
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September 12, 2008
Votes: +2

stef said:

Save sharks Je viens juste de voir le film Sharkwater et celui ci m a vraiment touché,les asiatiques sont vraiments des personnes sans état d'ames! Pourquoi ne pas organiser des manifestation pour lutter contre ce fléau,dans toutes les capitales européennes,ceci aurait au moins pour but d'avertir l'opinion publique et peut etre que les personnes politiques bougeraient enfin un peu.C'est navrant de voir que personne ne fait rien a part Paul Watson et Rob Stewart qui s'investissent totalement dans un combat qui devrait tous nous conçerner.... Longue vie a la "SEA SHEPHERD" !!

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August 22, 2008
Votes: +0

Kevin said:

[.....] Dedicasse a "pierrre-françois" Le seul francais que jai cru appercevoir..... je viens aussi ici suite au film.....horifiant ...... jai 21ans et je plonge depuis lage de 8ans.... je projete incessament sous peu daller plonger en affrique du sud avec un pote que a qui jai donner la passion de ce sport fabuleux...... lui es fan des requins depuis lenfance.....il ma a son tour rallier a sa passion......l'une dans lautre de toute facon cela ne pouvai que marcher... ca fou la haine de voir ca......ya pas a dire nous sommes pire que des betes..... je vous passe les pensees sombres ki parcourent ma tete en smoment mm..... si l'on pouvait.........

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August 22, 2008 | url
Votes: +1

Forrest Ingram said:

	... save the sharks!!!!!!!
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August 06, 2008
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Becky Farhar said:

	... When will we all rise up as one and make a change for good?
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August 06, 2008
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Justin Mitch said:

	This is an outrage. Can you people join us all in the 21 century i mean seriously. We all do very well eating things that are meant to be killed. CATS, DOGS, SHARKS ,ETC... are not put here. The asian cultures don't care about anything but themselves they are selfish and belong with the pigs.
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July 27, 2008 | url
Votes: -3

Leto said:

My very small summary on what I think. Money is what people are after regardless of consequenses.If a politican has a record of keeping economy growing till he is replaced he has done his job a good job. If the environment is in the way of this it will suffer. The logging in Tazmania is a prime example ''Hey look there is a 300 year old forest i bet if we pay off some people we can make millions by chopping it down and making it into woodchips'', ''The politican puts his hand out''. If the descisions made by the money hungry ignorant idiots that get voted in would be in the interests on the environment instead of money this place would be far better off. I mean we are still burning coal for electricity! They spend weeks debating over different ways to reduce fuel prices while they only get higher . I mean ''Fuel watch'' reducing the fuel prices but 5 cents a litre, all this money could be put towards more important things like the strong enforcment of the Great Barrier Reef. They are more concerned with illegal immigrants or buying 10 billion dollar fighter planes to ''Protect'' us from ......us? we need to protect in environment that is essenitally all we need to survive. I feel so powerless the governments, corporations and essentially money is running this world.....into the ground. Ban the killing of sharks enforce the laws that are put forward. In Australia we have the power and the money to do something. Our ecconomy is strong we do not need to kill sharks to feed our families. Without sustainable ecosystems esspecially in the oceans ''the life support system of our planet'' there will be nothing left and then what will we do with our money? Burn it to keep warm?

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July 23, 2008
Votes: +4

Lori Eanes said:

	photographer I support banning shark fishing in the Great Barrier Reef. I also believe we need to educate Asian countries where shark fin soup is popular. If people were aware of this cruel and barbaric practice I think the you could put an end to the demand. I say a huge media blitz in every country where shark fin soup is popular.
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July 22, 2008 | url
Votes: +4

Eric Sanderson said:

... This is truly a selfserving world we live in. I realized some time ago that our species parallels that of a virus taking over this earth. We live in harmony with nothing, taking what we want without any regard to balance and nature. I thought I could live my life with closed eyes eventually finding a quiet place to live off the land and sea taking only what I needed to survive. I know this to be a very selfish stance, not giving anything back, just looking out for myself. I now realize I will be unable to live this way knowing the tragedy that is going on in our seas. It is time to fight for those that can't fight for themselves. I have never been "pro" for anything before and I really do not know where to begin. I am going to start by spreading the word and if anyone has any ideas I am all ears. I do not have an abundance of money but I do have a lot of time. Capt. Caveman on Myspace.

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July 18, 2008
Votes: +3

pierrre-françois said:

	... salut a tous je suis français et bien sur je suis horrifié par cette situation alors pour tous les français,inscrivez vous sur la petition j'ai vu le film c'est une horreure ce qu'il font a ces somptueux predateur decidément detesté par tous.Il faut faire quelquechose bon courage a ceux qui bouge pour ça.
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July 11, 2008
Votes: +0

Kendell said:

... I dont understand why peopel are doing MORE to stop it.IT is ridiculous what is going out there and peopel are just turning thier backs. COuld you imagine what the world will be like without sharks? i am speechless now that i have seen and found out more.. I have been trying to help and do something about this problem this i was 5. I am determed to do something and i am sick of people not taking it seriously and just turing thier backs. If everyone comes together we can save the skarks

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June 28, 2008
Votes: +2

Sandy said:

	Save the sharks Educate the people and maybe we will get a change on their minds and hearts. Until then,I vote in favor, save the sharks!
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June 27, 2008
Votes: +5

Jamie Reardon said:

	... I just watched Sharkwater, what a powerful documentary. The act of shark finning is so barberic. Let's keep spreading the word around and help to save the sharks.
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June 22, 2008
Votes: +4

Matthew said:

... I am a 21 year old student from Canada and recently travelled to Australia to visit the Great Barrier Reef. My time was amazing and I could easily see what all the hype was about. After watching Sharkwater and being informed that the Queensland government actually allows fining to happen still is appalling! I cannot believe that after watching a movie like Sharkwater, a first would country who is supposed to be setting examples for the rest of the world still allows this to happen. Queensland Government, as far as I’m concerned you are a disgrace to humanity and I am very angry I put any money into tourism in Queensland. Some friends were considering traveling to Australia in the near future but I will advise them strongly not to do so. Set an example for the rest of the world, please …

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June 22, 2008
Votes: +7

Brian said:

I will not come to visit Australia--that costs you thousands of tourist dollars If Australia does not continue to ban shark fishing in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, then my wife and I will not come to visit Australia and dive there within the next two years, as we had planned. That is thousands of dollars in lost tourist money, just from the two of us. Imagine the multiplier effect as others do the same, or worse, as the Great Barrier Reef is no longer great and no one visits when there are no longer enough sharks to maintain the ecosystem.

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June 20, 2008
Votes: +6

Mandy said:

... Thanks for your clarification Matthew - there does tend to be a lot of misinformation and we do need to make sure we have our facts straight as we fight this issue - on every level. Let's not lose sight of the plight. As Matthew states "It is illegal to dump shark caresses and take their fins in Australian waters. If the fins are to be sold so must the meat." - but that isn't stopping it happening, in Australian waters by Australians, as well as internationals fishing illegally. Educated humans - you are kidding me? What have we learnt? Not a whole lot it would seem. Let's just take this matter seriously enough to make a difference. Apart from the waste of resources, barbaric cruelty, illegal trade (2nd only to the drug trade?) for tasteless fins - what about the damage to the environment that will occur if the top trophic level from the sea is removed? You don't need to love sharks - you just need to love breathing! "Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has"

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June 13, 2008
Votes: +3

Liane said:

	... Save the Sharks!
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June 08, 2008
Votes: +1

Mark said:

	Aussie Ignorance I'm no longer honoured to be an aussie... especially when I hear of such ignorance.
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June 07, 2008 | url
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Mark said:

	Aussie Ignorance I always thought of Australia as "good" and peaceful country. Now I am learning otherwise. I am not proud to be an aussie when I learn of this ignorance.
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June 07, 2008 | url
Votes: +1

Cédric Leblan said:

	Save the Sharks ! I'm agree we can save sharks , because it's a wonderful and an incedible animal! I love shark and somme stupid fisher want to kill more of them ! human people are stupid i beleieve ! Join us in french or in english at : http://www.facebook.com/groups/edit.php?gid=12867053366#/group.php?gid=12867053366
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June 06, 2008 | url
Votes: +1

Matthew said:

Agreed but don't be too angry Ok people are mistaken here. The law is not new. Australia has always had shark finning as an industry. Infact we are the top 20th country for shark finning...WELL DONE AUSTRALIA!!! When people think of shark finning they assume the caresses are thrown overboard. In many Asian countries this is true but in Australia it is not. It is illegal to dump shark caresses and take their fins in Australian waters. If the fins are to be sold so must the meat. The new laws are decreasing the number of licenses fishermen have to fish for sharks. They take from the Great barrier reef because it is one of the only area's that can handle large population stresses because of reef sharks high fertility (compared to other sharks) and abundance on the barrier reefs. However this industry should be stopped but i laugh that it's only now people take interest when I've been fighting the old laws for years... Only proper management will solve this as not many people listen to right winged conservationist's ideas (unfortunately)

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June 06, 2008
Votes: +0

jessica.nicole said:

uhmmm okay solike this is stupid? okay so like tyhis whole stupid shark finning thingy is stupid like sriously you wouldnt go and cut off someones ear and put it in soup now would you? so why the heck would you cut off a shark fin and put it in soup ? thats ridiculous isnt it? an then on top of that why would you sell it? like seriously what the hell did they ever even frigin do to you yeah so they attacked a few people i would to if someone pissed me off, but not like sharks do they only do that because they have nothing else to do and even though i dont particularily like sharks myself im still going to stick up for them because they cant stick up for themselves and i encourage others to do so also so anyways i like got to go now cause i have tto go outside for recess, anyways i hope my messgae got to some people at least thxx for your time for reading this ♥ have a great day (L)(L)♥

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June 05, 2008
Votes: +3

Shark Savers said:

... Good question about shark farming. This proposal, of course, is not about farming. I don't know of anyone trying to farm sharks, and that is most likely because sharks are not good candidates for farming. They take years to reach maturity and don't produce many pups when they do reach sexual maturity. Many species need to migrate. Their predatory nature may cause other problems in a farming situation.

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June 05, 2008
Votes: +1

CADiver said:

	... Would you rather have fisherman killing sharks in the open wild or would you rather have a control area where they raise sharks that are specific for the food chain. Don't we already do that for other fishes, shrimp, abalone, oyster, chicken, hog, cow, whatever ...
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June 04, 2008
Votes: -2

dr. PREMRAJ PUSHPAKARAN said:

	CEO yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
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June 03, 2008 | url
Votes: +1

Chris J. Inns said:

... WE CAN FIGHT THIS!!! Australia has a MULTI BILLION DOLLAR industry of wine sales in the US and Canada, having MUCH of the market share there. They also export to many other countries. Take action: BOYCOTT AUSTRALIAN WINE UNTIL SHARKS ARE FULLY PROTECTED IN AUSTRALIAN WATERS. Encourage all your friends and family to do the same. Spread the word. MOST IMPORTANTLY, SEND AN EMAIL TO WINE AUSTRALIA. Explain why you are boycotting their wine, and make sure to mention that you will lift the boycott as soon as they have agreed to protect sharks in australia. You can find the contact info for the wine australia rep in your country here: www.wineaustralia.com/Australi...?tabid=158