God saved the Sharks!

"DANCE WITH THE SHARKS"

I cannot begin this column without recalling the excellent film by Rob STEWART

"THE LORDS OF THE SEA" appeared in early 2008.

The extermination of sharks is still relevant !!!

More than 100 million sharks of all species are killed each year for their fins, before being thrown into the sea, sometimes still alive. This fish, which appeared on Earth 400 million years ago, was there 150 million years before the dinosaurs, but it is likely that at the rate at which we are exterminating them, it will have disappeared from the oceans well before the middle of this century. The shark is a symbol: that of the lack of respect of the human species for the planet which shelters it. The symbol of the prejudices of a primate which has voluntarily excluded itself from the natural cycle and which today strives to destroy it, even if it means causing its disappearance in the process. The bad reputation attached to the shark is however completely unfounded . Sharks kill only five people on average per year, and in 90% of cases, it is still an error of judgment on their part, which leads them to confuse us with a seal or an injured sea lion. Contrary to what the legend tells, the shark does not like the dear human and when it bites, it is to “taste”, not to devour us. In more than nine out of ten cases, the victim of a bite also dies from hemorrhage but not from having been eaten! Mythified by "The teeth of the sea", the white shark, known as a man-eater, rarely approaches beaches because it fears us as much as we fear it. Most sharks don't even have mouths big enough or teeth sharp enough to tear the elastic skin of a human being as some would have us believe.If sharks are exterminated with the utmost indifference, it is therefore above all because they are considered by many to be ferocious animals, while elephants kill several hundred people each year without them even entering the idea of ​​considering them as a particularly dangerous species for humans. Shark hunting is illegal in 16 countries, but that cannot prevent fishermen from letting baited lines several kilometers long in international waters to retrieve their fins, which will be dried or processed before being sent to Asia. where they will be sold for more than $ 400 per kilo! However, this marine predator is essential for the proper functioning of the food chain of which it constitutes the top of the pyramid. By feeding on smaller fish, it helps regulate the absorption of plankton, a major producer of oxygen.

”The shark slaughter is therefore one of the biggest ecological bombs that we have to fear in the years to come! “

Future generations will no doubt regard us as barbarians when we are done with fossil fuels, when we have emptied the oceans, cut whole forests and wiped out the ecological systems that ensure our survival… with full knowledge of the facts. Because the worst part is that we are all aware of what we are doing. Scientists are, environmentalists are, big business and even a large part of the public knows that we are playing with fire, that we behave like Gods when we are just one of many species on This planet that does not belong to us. Soon, here as elsewhere, off Costa Rica or the Galapagos Islands, there will be no more sharks and the ocean will supply a little less oxygen to this small planet which will soon be unable to feed us, to make us drink and maybe one day, to make us breathe!

"Commit to saving and protecting sharks!" "

Let's help Shark Alliance so that this fight is also ours, Shark Alliance needs our help !!!

You can help protect sharks!

The EU plays a fundamental role in many areas of the protection of the environment and of species of flora and fauna - but unfortunately this is not the case when it comes to regulations concerning fin fishing sharks (which involves chopping off sharks' fins, then throwing any living animals overboard) Shark Alliance is a non-profit NGO committed to protecting stingray and shark populations through the European regulations on fishing. As large fleets of fishing vessels are stationed in Europe, it is possible to influence fishing regulations around the world, Shark Alliance has chosen to act by taking advantage of this factor. 'EU for the protection of sharks and continue the measure on a scientific and non-commercial basis.

The main points are:

• Significant limitations on shark fishing.

• Protection of endangered shark and ray species.

• More effective bans on shark fin fishing.

Project AWARE has worked with the Shark Alliance for many years to preserve these critically endangered animals.

Participate! Get involved in protecting sharks.

For more information visit the Shark Alliance website.

To meditate !

Thierrymoulin@capdive.com

www.capdive.com