White on White!

Science: “Better to kill than protect sharks!”

Oowee, who saw that coming? But dry your tears! They're fish!

A new survey of shark scientists has revealed ninety percent of ’em believe sustainable shark fishing is preferable to sanctuaries and bans, and that hysterical voices in the conversation movement are overriding an evidence-based approach.

Oowee, who saw that coming?

Let’s get straight into the story, as reported by a cute as hell magazine called Hakai. 

The result may seem counterintuitive, acknowledges lead author David Shiffman, but the finding points to the fact that wildlife conservation is more nuanced than the general public tends to appreciate. While people may believe that all shark species are endangered, and that any form of shark fishing threatens to push populations to collapse, Shiffman says the best available science evidence does not support those ideas.

The survey also reflects a concern among scientists that more extreme voices in the conservation community may be overshadowing a more evidence-based approach to protection.

“One of our conclusions from this is that those in the research community and those in the advocacy community should talk to one another more,” Shiffman says.

In general, the scientists favor policies that protect specific species, rather than those that set regional limits on shark fishing. Out of 12 conservation policies considered, shark sanctuaries and bans on shark finning received the least support from the researchers.

Does this sort of intellectual rigour excite you as much as it excites me?

That, and let’s use the example of Reunion Island here, it ain’t doing anyone any favours by protecting bull sharks inside the marine reserve there. All it’s done is create a length of coastline that has become unusable for humans.

Where, says Jeremy Flores, who ain’t a scientist but who grew up living in the ocean on Reunion, he won’t even surf anymore.

“Getting attacked is a fifty-fifty proposition,” he says.  “I would say, stay out of the water. Stay… out… of… the… water.”

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Keith CANNON
Keith CANNON
5 years ago

I thought that Tahitians don’t have the “ch” digraph in their language…. and it is not “Pee ah he” , it is “Pay ah hee”…. “Why may ah” and not “Why me ah” … I miss Ace Cool, at least he died with his board shorts wet….

Captain Clark
Captain Clark
9 years ago

Who made you the moderator of all things beach grit? The kind of censorship your spewing sure sounds like a communist bastard. Are you North Korean?

Smidge
Smidge
9 years ago
Reply to  Captain Clark

Good stuff!!

Captain Clark
Captain Clark
9 years ago

You truly are a special kind of idiot. I’ll do and say whatever I want, especially if it pisses you off little hitler.

Bleedin' Brzezinski
Bleedin' Brzezinski
9 years ago

Hey now, Twillsy, “fucktard” diminishes your credentials as a caring commie. It should be “fuck-intellectually-impaired”

Bleedin' Brzezinski
Bleedin' Brzezinski
9 years ago

I’m of the Pawle persuasion myself, so it pains me to say this, but I agree with you here. This is not “science” in the least. It is a survey of opinions. Opinions can be based on science, but they are not science at all. Its a classic mistake, and one which the scientist doing the survey should have gone to pains to avoid (maybe he did and we didn’t hear it?).

Captain Clark
Captain Clark
9 years ago

I don’t recall saying it did have anything to do with the rest of the world. What I said is true, most liberal people in America have zero idea about conservation money, or where it comes from. Frankly, most people left or right have no idea where the money comes from, but the lefties tend to get all uptight about killing anything. Sort of how you’re uptight right now with your name calling.

Brutus
Brutus
9 years ago
Reply to  Captain Clark

El Kapitan , we are currently experiencing a mass extinction of species , a lot has to do with human behaviour , so it’s not about left or right , its about how much we have already done in 50 years , and what will be the affects in the future .
to stereo type anybody who is against culling or killing or worried about the environment as lefties , puts you ?

Captain Clark
Captain Clark
9 years ago
Reply to  Brutus

See the thing is the green people think that their efforts will save the day, always. That’s not necessarily always the case. Efforts have a way of having unforseen results. Example: Florida banned taking goliath grouper some years back thinking, we will save the species from extinction. Result: goliath grouper takeover. They eat nearly anything and have seriously upset the balance on local reefs and wrecks. I say lefties because they are the ones who cry about it(killing things) and it’s always stereotyping when something is said negatively towards them. However, how many times on this very forum is Trump or his supporters stereotyped? Often, if you’re honest. Also, this mass extinction thing, there is no fixing it bro, because it doesn’t exist. Remember the hole in the ozone layer? Not really happening, but at the time it was gospel truth. I remember that propaganda in grammar school being forced down our throats, proved to be false. I don’t buy the scientist alarmist crap, period. Call me names, make your fun, I don’t buy their bullshit, because I’m out there in the shit. I see the fish numbers they claim Don t exist. I see the sharks they say are gone. I see from experience, not manipulated stat sheets.

Bleedin' Brzezinski
Bleedin' Brzezinski
9 years ago
Reply to  Captain Clark

Captain, you’re kickin ass and taking names, good to see you back here.

Captain Clark
Captain Clark
9 years ago

I had to take a break. I kept reading the write ups, just kept to my own. Globally, I sure Don’t have an answer or idea about. Now my local, I got that dialed. This issue I have to know back a forth as it deals with my bread making abilities.

Captain Clark
Captain Clark
9 years ago

Note to self, do not engage twillsy. He is not worth the time.

Captain Clark
Captain Clark
9 years ago

Who said anything about surfers? Your comment makes absolutely no sense as a response to mine. You clearly have absolutely no idea about conservation in America, or where the money’s come from. Call me what you wish to make yourself feel better, but next time while doing so please actually stay on topic. I’d wager I look like a “the bad word you called me” because I’m not bashing right wingers and Trump.

Captain Clark
Captain Clark
9 years ago

Shocking! I shant believe that all those fisherman were right all along. How dare the recreational anglers buy all sorts of things that have tax attached. Most lefties that get rattled by people that harvest game have no clue that hunters and fishermen represent the majority of conservation funding. These are the same people who bash Trump, voted for Hillary, and loved the worst President since Carter.

Trogan Fan
Trogan Fan
9 years ago

or California Fish and Wildlife: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov…

Trogan Fan
Trogan Fan
9 years ago

it might, but it would also be counter to current science, which shows GW’s aren’t endangered.

Paulo De Tarso Duarte
Paulo De Tarso Duarte
9 years ago

Well … watching the stunning news of the attacks in Charlottesville … an incredible reef and right hand point break …
I agree with Derek … we should culling, hook, and slice some whitties!
An ocean full of them is appearing, they are reproducing more and more!
They are violent, bad, racist – notice that their targets are always humans, seals (mainly black), they are territorialists … and they are supremacists !!! Nazis!!!
Let’s burn them! Ops …! Fish them!!! https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Give us our torches !!! … ops !!! Sorry … Hooks !!!

Brutus
Brutus
9 years ago

ah the GWT’s !!!! Trump is the best thing to happen to the world in a long time as he is flushing out all the right wing haters , now we know who they are , where they are , knowledge is power!

Paulo De Tarso Duarte
Paulo De Tarso Duarte
9 years ago
Reply to  Brutus

Brutus I agree with you completely!
Here in Brazil, the rights and the “neoliberais” (most are righters, in essence ashamed to admit) have arisen, with the same intentions.
But the worst thing is to see people, the ones closest to you, who share some of these principles …
They hid before the internet, but now “free” behind a screen, scream some of those junk.
Not with that violence, but walking to …

channelbottom
channelbottom
9 years ago

Er… ok. Not sure why. Dogfish ( a shark species) is relatively sustainable.
The famous fish tacos of Baja are typically made from them and I reckon, one of the tastiest dishes on the planet. Thank you.

Brutus
Brutus
9 years ago

exactly , sharks are just fish , tigers are cats , crocodiles are reptiles , so if ya scared of losing your life from any of the former, just don’t go near them , and let the rest of us don’t have to put up with hysterical fear driven minorities!
I still think if you cull all the whales there will be less GWS’s , but have just been in Japan so maybe a bit biased!

Neal Kearney
Neal Kearney
9 years ago
Reply to  Brutus

We are just evolved monkeys too! Should we cull Trump supporters next? All jokes aside, it’s extremely sad about Reunion. I support that cull.

Brutus
Brutus
9 years ago
Reply to  Neal Kearney

Ha , are you saying cull the great white Trumpers? Reunion is an example of they fished all the reef sharks , Bulls moved in , remove the Bulls , what’s next , everytime we fuck with nature well we fuck it up , there’s always an affect!

Trogan Fan
Trogan Fan
9 years ago
Reply to  Brutus

this is not at all how it worked.

Neal Kearney
Neal Kearney
9 years ago
Reply to  Brutus

Only posed the question! I’m a softie I tear up when I step on a snail so culling anything isn’t up my own personal alley. Still! You are too correct I took an environmental science class at my local community college and I almost wish I hadn’t. We are at the point of no return; so heavy!!

channelbottom
channelbottom
9 years ago

I was under the impression that sharks like white pointers etc were near enough inedible. Nothing like a tasty bit of Dogfish though!


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