New great white shark haunt to be revealed with conservation in mind
Check out the white shark video to try to determine the location: (a) Guadalupe Island; (b) South Africa; (c) South Australia; (d) Farallon Islands; or (e) none of the above?
The answer is “e.”
It’s a newly discovered white shark aggregation site and news of its existence is sure to pique the interest of scientists and documentary teams.
An announcement regarding the site will be made this weekend by Shark Divers, a company that used to be in the commercial cage-diving business but now specializes in working with film and television crews.
For now, its code name is Oceana and Shark Divers CEO Patric Douglas, who labels it the most exciting white shark site discovery since Mexico’s Guadalupe Island in 2001, would only confirm that it’s a very remote island in the Southern Ocean.
Douglas said a limited number of crews will begin visiting the location early next year and that it remains unclear whether a commercial cage-diving operation will be established.
Cage-diving operations are beneficial in that they allow the general public to develop a better understanding and appreciation of the embattled apex predators. But they can also be harmful to sharks–especially those that accidentally get caught between cage bars–and some charge that chumming habituates the sharks.
Because aggregation sites are so few, they do need to be protected and diving operations need to be regulated. “These sites need to be protected with everything we’ve got,” Douglas said. “Now that the site is known, we’ve got to get the public behind it so the local government can say ‘Yes, we need to turn this into a special place.’ ”
–Pete Thomas, for the LA Times
Luke Tipple, Director of SFMI, to guest on the 970-WFLA “Capt. Mel Show.”
We are pleased to announce that Luke Tipple, Director of SFMI, will be interviewed on the The Captain Mel Show, Saturday Jun 20th.
From the Captain Mel Website
Along with a full open hour a 6 AM — and the next two hours our special guests include Mote Marine’s shark expert Dr. Bob Hueter and — Luke Tipple, Director of the Shark-Free Marina Initiative – plus lots of your phone calls – 6 to 9 AM every Saturday on Florida’s most popular radio fishing program — The 970-WFLA “Capt. Mel Show.” Call in – Listen in!
You can listen in by following this link
Captain Mel has been promoting Shark Conservation and catch and release for almost 20 years, here’s what he has to say on the issue:
Catch & Release: What a Concept!
By CAPT. MEL BERMAN, 970-WFLA
You would think that me, “a reformed meat fisherman” would take these things in stride – go with the flow. But I gotta tell you – seeing a beautiful, hapless big tiger shark dragged in dead off the New England coast a few years back by a group of guys hoping to win a prize– really turned me off. And to compound the matter, many of the “no-nothing about fish and fishing” TV media hailed these men as “conquering heroes”
”Wow, that was some catch,” mused one lame TV interviewer. “How big was that baby.” “1100 pounds” said one of the anglers. The sad part is that a magnificent animal was killed – and those guys were six minutes late. So they didn’t even cash in on their ill begotten spoils.
I know, I know. Many reading this could be thinking “what a shark hugger!” But the more I see the destruction of some of nature’s most impressive creatures for such mundane reasons, the more I realize that kill tournaments have to go the way of the horse-drawn carriage and Hula Hoops. It’s just plain sad.
As a 40-year resident of the Sunshine Sate, I can recall the common sight of massive sharks, tarpon, amberjack and other leviathans of the deep hung unceremoniously to rot in the sun. Even then I felt twinges of anguish of the fate of these creatures.
Many of these great denizens of the sea had their lives terminated because of the proliferation of so-called kill tournaments throughout the state at that time.
These days, most of us have concluded that there is no valid reason for kill tournaments – especially since we have such great new tools like digital cameras and other new age devices for recording and reporting one’s catch.
This great concept was pioneered several years ago by Capt. Richard Seward and his colleagues of the Tampa Bay CCA Chapter. These days, catch and photo release contests are the norm with the great majority of tournaments and organizations<
In the more than 20 years that I have been hosting my 970-WFLA radio show, it’s been an inspiration to see the trend — “Catch and release.” That’s the mantra of many, if not most Florida sportfishers. Basically, these folks want to make sure that their “fishing partners” – the fish — are happy, healthy and multiply.
Does this mean that I think we shouldn’t take an occasional fillet or two – or even three home for dinner? Absolutely not. I personally enjoy a nice fillet or two on frequent occasion. Yet, is it my job to feed the neighborhood? Do I need the “gee-whiz” experience of laying out dozens of dead fish on the dock? Why would you?
Fish are most attractive and fun when they are alive and vibrant. So why not take a quick picture — and put that critter back so it can rejoin its kinfolk in the deep.
And please, take the time to learn how to best release all target species so that they survive the experience.
Experts recommend that it’s best to leave the fish in the water and use some kind of needle nose pliers or release device to let them go. And if you must lift a fish out of the water to pose for a picture, remember — that creature was designed to spend its entire life in a horizontal position. So when taking pictures, hold the fish horizontally with wet hands – avoid using a towel or rag – take you pictures and return that baby to the water as quickly as possible.
My pal “The Mad Snooker” (Capt. Dave Pomerleau) often says, “try holding your own breath for the entire time you have a fish out of the water. Then you will have some idea of how the fish feels.”
Now if only we could somehow bottle that “Florida catch and release spirit” and export it to other parts of the U. S. and the world.
‘Shark Saturdays’ promote ‘species eradication’
Shark fishing tournaments are a primal spectacle and tourist attraction that play on our innate awe of the “monster fish.” However, as more is learned about the imminent demise of many shark species, a more educated public is starting to emerge.
Destin’s Shark Saturdays is one such example of questionable promotion.
The event, scheduled for October, is actually four individual Saturdays which are part of a month-long fishing tournament. Helen Donaldson, the event’s executive director, states the purpose of the event is to “get more people fishing in Destin,” and here’s where the real problem lies.
While a shark being brought to the docks is unquestionably a crowd pleaser, the public is becoming more aware that they are witness to the decline of an already threatened species. Take for example, the Rodeo record-breaking mako that the event caught in 2007, which attracted criticism from around the world. According to event organizers the targeted species this year According to event organizers the targeted species include bull sharks, hammerheads and tiger sharks, all of which appear on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s threatened species list.
The United States does not currently have any shark species listed as “endangered,” however, to be declared ‘threatened’ a species must be in danger of imminent population decline.
While recreational shark fishing regulations do exist, they are tough to monitor and therefore seldom enforced. If the objective of Shark Saturdays is to increase the number of people fishing for “threatened” species, then we have to ask the obvious question: Should we really be promoting species eradication?
Somewhere along the line, there has to be a change in how we view the ocean and the animals that make up a healthy ecosystem.
Specifically targeting breeding-age sharks for slaughter is ecologically unsafe. This action contributes significantly to overall population decline as competitors inevitably wait to catch the largest sharks, which are usually female and quite often pregnant.
Despite all this, the industry and economy of shark fishing tournaments cannot be ignored.
So what is the solution?
Our new resource management group believes we have the answer.
The Shark-Free Marina Initiative was established as an answer to the culture of “mature shark harvests.”
There is nothing wrong with catch and release shark fishing. When proper standards are followed, the animal can be released back into the breeding population. Fishermen can still enjoy the thrill of the hunt and be rewarded for their catch.
All it takes is for officials to switch their reward structure from weighing the animal, to measuring the animal in the water.
Shark-free Marinas promises to reduce worldwide shark mortality by prohibiting fishermen from bringing dead sharks to the dock. Instead they aim to work with marinas and fishing groups to develop events that will draw a crowd but don’t allow the mortal take of these “threatened” species.
Points and prizes will be awarded for sharks tagged, measured and released while the crowd remain entertained on the docks by interactive attractions and the usual fare that accompanies these events.
Already the SFMI is gaining supporters, and they are currently working with events such as the “Are You Man Enough?” fishing tournament to set a new standard in fishing competition. SFMI commends the Destin Fishing Rodeo for their shark tagging division but questions the sense in killing these animals for the top awarded prize of a mere $250.
All we are talking about is sensible management of ocean resources — particularly in relation to sharks.
It’s time that we drop the “Jaws” rhetoric and accept that we need these animals in the ocean. Events such as Shark Saturday make money by killing dwindling populations of sharks, and this kind of “family” event just perpetuates this culture in the kids who should be taught environmental responsibility.
With a little restructuring, we can help tournament organizers create a positive community event while still entertaining their hard core fishing audience.
Visit the Shark-Free Marinas website at www.sharkfreemarinas.com for more information.
Luke Tipple is Director of the Shark-Free Marina Initiative.
Originally posted in the Destin Log
Luke Tipple to guest on ‘Afishionado Radio’, June 13
From the host Wade Osborne:
Please join my expert panel this week on Afishionado Radio as we discuss the importance of not killing large sharks.
Up for discussion will be the Bull shark killed on St Petersburg Pier, Bucky Denis’ Hammerhead kill and the Shark-Free Marina Initiative which is working with marinas and councils to promote a more sensible approach to shark conservation.
Guests include:
- Dr. Bob Hueter, Senior Scientist & Director, Center for Shark Research; Manager, Shark Biology Program at Mote Marine Laboratory,
- Brent L. Winner, Associate Research Scientist with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s Fisheries Independent Monitoring Program
- Luke Tipple, Marine Biologist and Director of the Shark-Free Marina Initiative.
To find out how you can catch the show visit the Afishionado site at www.afishionado.com/radio.asp
Shark anglers who kill their catch may soon be unwelcome in home port
Recreational fishermen in California are well aware of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative, an ongoing and controversial stakeholder-driven process that is working to put in place a vast network of marine protected areas, including no-fishing zones, along the coast.
But many probably have not heard of the fledgling Shark-Free Marina Initiative, which recently launched a campaign to try to prohibit the landing of sharks in marinas around the world.
The SFMI figures to receive more angler support than the MLPAI, but there will be veteran shark anglers who oppose such meddling.
The SFMI is a response by shark conservationists to the perilous plight most species of sharks face because of rampant overfishing on a global scale, commercially.
“Although the number of sharks killed by recreational fishermen each year is dwarfed by commercial catches, the current crisis facing shark stocks requires action wherever possible,” Edd Brooks, a scientist on the SFMI advisory board, said in a news release. “We are not asking fishermen to stop fishing, only asking them to start releasing their catch.”
It’s a worthy endeavor. Killing sharks for sport is increasingly unpopular and harmful to the marine environment. It’s worse than killing marlin and other billfish because sharks are so slow to reproduce.
Luke Tipple, director of the SFMI, said there are only six cooperating marinas — it began with two marinas in the Bahamas — but six others have registered and recruitment drives are planned for Florida and California. Essentially, cooperating marinas, which can register on the SFMI website, obtain signage and literature that cautions in bright-red lettering that bringing dead sharks back to port won’t be tolerated.
It will be interesting to see whether this will catch on and what kind of reaction it garners.
– Pete Thomas
Photo: A 1,060-pound hammerhead shark is treated carefully after being caught and ultimately killed recently by Capt. Bucky Dennis off Boca Grande, Fla. Credit: Julie Deibler
Shark Attack Video gains 5 Million YouTube hits…
The shark attack video depicting a Northern Elephant seal being killed and devoured at Isla Guadalupe is still climbing the boards. Just over a year after racing back from a Great White Shark Diving trip to shoot the intro and post the video it now has over 5 Million YouTube hits thus far and is officially the #16 most watched Travel and Events video in the history of You Tube. Needless to say I’m stoked!
YouTube listing of the top 20 Travel and Events video’s of all time
You can read all about the event in my original post here.
I hope this video continues to fascinate and awe people at the amazing power of the Great White Shark (and seriously, enough ‘explosion!!’ jokes already ;)
Cheers
Luke Tipple
About the Author
Luke Tipple is a Marine Biologist, professional diver and wildlife production consultant with an infectious passion for travel and adventure.
Originally hailing from Adelaide, Australia, his travels have taken him around the globe working in positions such as research scientist, tour guide, dive instructor, trip director and sometime bar man. Currently he is based in L.A. but is most frequently found out on the waters of the Bahamas or Pacific Ocean working and diving with sharks. Recently he has worked with the Discovery channels Mythbusters while they filmed content for Shark Week 2008, and the French documentary team from Ushuaia Nature. He is currently working on developing his own Television show with the vision to both educate and entertain his audience.
