Endangerment upon Whale-Sharks Whos idea was it?

Brittney Darensbourg

English IV/ 2nd Mrs. Jones 28 March 2014

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Outline

THESIS: Is it ethical to kill Whale-Sharks only for their fins, meat, and oil? I think that killing innocent creatures for money is cruel. Fishermen killing them like their lives dont mean anything or for that matter even worth letting Whale-Sharks live their life. By discussing the endangerment of these humble creatures, you will soon see how their population is rapidly decreasing as years goes by. I wanted to bring awareness of this ongoing horrid situation.

Introduction I. The history of how it started. A. The origin of it all. 1.) Whos idea was it? 2.) The reason for this commotion. B. How was it being done? 1.) How they caught the Whale-Sharks. a.) Where were they located? b.) Fishermen knew the facts about Whale-Sharks. 2.) How the fishermen caught the Whale-Sharks. II. The turn-out (solution) of the issue. A. Several ways to save the Whale-Shark. 1.) Make a law for the problem to be dealt with. 2.) Get a signed petition so the issue can be noticed and meetings can be made. B. Looking for other food options instead of eating Whale-Sharks.

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1. The facts about the food you eat. b.) How you would find out the origin of the food you eat. 1.) What would you ask to find out the origin of the food you eat? Conclusion

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Endangerment upon Whale-Sharks Whos idea was it?

In 1828, Andrew Smith described and named the Whale Shark, based upon a specimen harpooned in Table Bay, South Africa. There is really not much of an origin of who were the first to catch Whale-Sharks was or when it all started. But we do in fact know the reason why it is still going on in the world today. Whale Sharks have been targeted for many decades in Taiwan, but catches seem to have declined since the 1980s (Norman). In a study in the Philippines it was found that in 1997 there was a 29% decrease in the Whale Shark catch at two of the primary sites. Despite the increase in effort due to rising prices for exported products (Norman). Fishermen in Maldives used to take 20-30 Whale-Sharks per year for their oil. This started reports of declining catches during the 1980s to early 1990s (Norman). Is it ethical to kill WhaleSharks only for their fins, meat, and oil? I think that killing innocent creatures for money is cruel. Fishermen killing them like their lives dont mean anything or for that matter even worth letting Whale-Sharks live their life. By discussing the endangerment of these humble creatures, you will soon see how their population is rapidly decreasing as years goes by. I wanted to bring awareness of this ongoing horrid situation.

The reason for the commotion.

In Pakistan the flesh was traditionally eaten either fresh or salted. The number of the sharks taken each year was small and often accidental by catch. Liver oil was traditionally used for waterproofing boat hulls. The

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huge fins are low quality but of high value as restaurants signboards which is in East Asia (Norman). Just of this year in 2014 in an online article called Slaughterhouse Said to Process Horrifying Number of Whale Sharks Annually, said that a single carcass is worth $30,000 (Lee).

You can only image the sky rocketing prices that the other parts of the Whale-Sharks may cost. Also, the soft meat known as tofu shark is in great demand in Taiwan (Norman).

How they caught the Whale-Sharks.

Small-scale harpoon and entanglement fisheries have taken place in various regions which includes India, Pakistan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and the Maldives (Norman). In 1995, landings throughout Taiwan were approximately 250-272 around 158 taken as by catch in set nets and 144 by harpoon. The government introduced a Whale Shark reporting system in 2001 (Norman). Billfish harpooners from Hengchun Harbour, fishing south of Penghu, reportedly landed 50-60 Whale Sharks each spring in the mid-1980s. Annual landings at this location subsequently declined to about 10 sharks and fewer still in 1994 and 1995 (Norman). The increased fishing effort and failing catches led to the 1998 fishery ban. Illegal fishing and attempted export of meat still continues on a small scale, with shipments having been impounded by customs authorities (Norman).

Fishermen knew the facts about Whale-Sharks

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The harpooners and fishermen knew the facts of Whale-Sharks in order to identify them. They knew that Whale-Shark colors are reddish, brownish, and ochre with lighter spots and stripes (Ellis 202). Their skin is unmatched anywhere in nature (Ellis 99). Also, its mouth is in the

Terminal position. This means that it is located at the front of the head rather than being underslung (Ellis 99). It has a slow and ponderous movement and it has keels on its tail structure (Ellis 62).

Make a law for the problem to be dealt with.

A few ways to solve this problem are to figure out ways to save the Whale-Sharks and find out other options for food. One way we can save the Whale-Sharks is to make a strict law that protects them. This can be done by the Congress voting on whether it should be a law. Once they agree on it then its up to the President to decide. In this case, if someone should ever break this law then they would have to fine five thousand dollars. When the fines are given they will be written out in a book to keep record. So that if the same person name comes across again, then that person would be fined two hundred dollars more which would include the original five thousand.

Get a signed petition so the issue can get noticed and meetings can be made. The second way would be to get a petition signed and set up meetings for people to go to. We can start by getting a lot of signatures on a petition and bring it to City Hall. Its a good

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idea to go for at least 5,000 signatures to make sure the claim is noticed. When this is done then City Hall will announce meetings about it in the city. So in the end, this situation with the Whale-Sharks will once again be noticed but stay noticed a well.

Know the origin of the food you eat.

The second solution to regaining Whale-sharks would be to look for other food options. The two ways we can do this is by knowing the origin of the food you eat and how would you find out. Sushi has an origin beyond the distant shores of Japan. The slices of fish that grace your sashimi plate or balance delicately on the rice of your nigin came from living creatures in the water (McCauglin & Safina 81). You dont have to quite eating sushi, as there are a number of species that you can eat with confidence ( McCauglin & Safina). Knowing your seafood was caught or farmed in a way that had minimal impact on fish populations or surrounding habitat (McCauglin & Safina 82). You can pass on tako, as octopus populations are declining due to heavy fishing pressure. Instead, you can try squid which could be caught in local waters. Montauk is one of the nations largest squid ports. Since they reproduce quickly, this can be a sushi dish that can be enjoyed without the side of guilt. A way to find out is by using a sustainable seafood guide. For example, one that is produced by the Blue Ocean Institute. In this book you can learn more about the impact of your fish choices, where your fish comes from or the history and etiquette of eating it. What would you ask to find out the origin of the food you eat?

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Talking with your sushi chef is the next step in broadening your sushi horizons. In addition to hearing the story of your sushi, there are certain questions you should ask. What port did this fish come in to? Is this fish traditionally eaten in Japan? What is the recommended preparation for this type of fish?

Is it ethical to kill Whale-Sharks only for their fins, meat, and oil? I think that killing innocent creatures for money is cruel. Fishermen killing them like their lives dont mean anything or for that matter even worth letting Whale-Sharks live their life. By discussing the endangerment of these humble creatures, you will soon see how their population is rapidly decreasing as years goes by. I wanted to bring awareness of this ongoing horrid situation. Unique among the sharks, unique among the fishes, and even unique among the vertebrates that inhabit the sea (Ellis 99).

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Work Cited

Dembicki, Matt. Wild Ocean: True Tales of Sharks, Whales, Rays, and other Endangered Sea Life Fulcrum Publishing Inc. 2004. Ellis, Richard. The Book of Sharks New York. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1976. Lee J. Jane. Slaughterhouse said to Process Horrifying Number of Whale Sharks Annually. National Geographic 29 January 2014. Martins, Carol & Knickle,Craig. Florida Museum of Natural History< www.flmnh.ufl.edu> McCauglin, Katherine & Safina, Carl. Endangered Species Farmington Hills, MI : Chr istine Nasso, 2010. Norman, B. 2005. Rhincodon typus. In IUCN 2013.IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2.www.iucnredlist.org.Downloaded on 28 March 2014. Saikia, Ankush. DK Eyewitness Books: Endangered Animals New York: Dorling Kindersley Limited, London, 2010. Snyderman, Marty. Shark Endangered Predator of the Sea Ontario. Key Porter Books Limited. 1995.