2008 was a horrific year for commercial shark diving operations in South Africa loosing sharks to both poachers and to shark nets.We witnessed many blog posts detailing the slaughter but no real initiatives put forth to stop it. It is now 2009 and the venerable Andy Cobb has weighed in on this issue. While we do not always agree with Andy's take on things, we do agree that local conservation initiatives save sharks, but they have to start somewhere:
Shark Tourism Full Story
Shark diving in S.A is a huge International tourist attraction and the flagship species are the white shark, tiger shark, bull shark, the spotted ragged toothed shark and a whole host of varied flat sharks. Many visitors are well travelled to dive with sharks and are knowledgeable and passionate about sharks.
The white shark cage diving industry is now just a money making racket by the majority of the operators, the tourists pay large sums of money and are crammed onto a boat, to watch white sharks being fed, and breaking the S. A. law against such activity in a MPA.
2 comments:
Andy was one of the original shark operators. His shark conservation messages in South Africa goes back to the 90's when no one was talking shark conservation.
Glad to see someone doing something even if it is just a blog post and a few letters.
As you guys say all the time it starts with "One".
You say : "The white shark cage diving industry is now just a money making racket by the majority of the operators, the tourists pay large sums of money and are crammed onto a boat, to watch white sharks being fed, and breaking the S. A. law against such activity in a MPA."
Quite a strong statement.
Could you please elaborate on the breaking of the law in a MPA bit.
Specifically mention the MPA in question, and the actual laws that are being broken.
thanks
Jack
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