The Honorable Bob Filner
333 F Street, Suite A
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Dear Representative Bob Filner:
I am writing to express my concern over the cruel fishing practice known as shark-finning. This act is inhumane, wasteful, and if we continue to harvest sharks at the rate we are, the oceans ecosystem will be in trouble. Sharks have been around since even before the dinosaurs, and have been the ocean’s top predator for millions of years. Their disappearance would create a large gap at the top of the food-chain. You see, sharks aren’t just crazy killing machines; they keep many creatures that would otherwise wreak havoc in check. If they died off, these species’ populations would grow rapidly, and many different prey fish would decline just as swiftly. Fish that would, say, clean algae off of reefs, would be consumed by the larger fish that prey upon them, and reef systems would suffer. The same thing would occur in many other marine habitats; but not only that, our own food supply would begin to suffer.
The root of this problem is the increased demand for the Chinese delicacy, shark-fin soup. Sharks fin is alarmingly high priced, while the rest of the meat is dirt-cheap. This has lead fisherman to simply remove the fin, and dump the rest of the still living shark back into the ocean to die by drowning or bleeding to death. This act has lead to the sharp decline in shark populations the world over, some places being down over 90%; and poachers don’t differentiate between endangered and non-endangered species, or whether or not they’re on a marine reserve for that matter. As I said, this is a global issue, and while we can’t really do anything to keep the Chinese from consuming their soup (other than pressuring them to find an alternative), we can lead by example in regulating the shark-finning market.
As you know, California has the second longest coastline of any western/pacific state, meaning that the ocean is a major part of many of its citizens’ lives; and I think it is our job to do our best to protect it. In the U.S., it was recently made illegal to fin sharks at sea (which closes a few loop-holes of the previous bill), while foreign-registered ships are not allowed to harvest shark fins in the US Exclusive Economic Zone. This was an excellent step further in limiting the damage done to shark populations, but I believe that it should be taken further. I now propose that, along with the current regulations, no us-registered vessel should be allowed to fin sharks unless they have a permit that says they may do so, as well as limiting how many sharks may be harvested per year by any one vessel. Any vessel caught with sharks, or their fins, on board without a permit should face a serious fine (preferably one that would outweigh the possible profits that could be made off the fins), if not jail time.
Sincerely,
Matthew Cunningham
590 East H Street # 152
Chula Vista, CA
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
My Research paper & petition on Sharkfinning
Here is a link to my petition shark finning, please read and sign if you're interested.
http://www.petitiononline.com/dontfin/
and heres the link to my research paper, its about 6 pages log, feel free to read it.
http://docs.google.com/a/hightechhigh.org/Doc?docid=0AXqYLn1mjgYLZGY5OTl4djlfM2c3Z3R6ZmZm&hl=en
http://www.petitiononline.com/dontfin/
and heres the link to my research paper, its about 6 pages log, feel free to read it.
http://docs.google.com/a/hightechhigh.org/Doc?docid=0AXqYLn1mjgYLZGY5OTl4djlfM2c3Z3R6ZmZm&hl=en
Sharkfinning Op-ed
If you know someone who refuses to go swimming at the beach, the odds are it’s because they’ve seen Jaws one too many times. Sharks are without a doubt one of the most feared animals in the world, and definitely not an animal that most people would want to bump into in the wild. Sharks have been the oceans top predator for millions of years, and are often characterized as ruthless killing machines and man-eaters. But the truth of the matter is that sharks only kill around ten people a year, with the reports on attacks often being over exaggerated (not to say that shark attacks aren’t serious).
Now, there is a predator that threatens shark’s the world over. That predator is us, humans. While ten people a year dying from shark attacks may still seem large enough to some people, it is nothing in comparison to the horrifying number of sharks that are brutally killed each year by humans.
Every year somewhere between 35 and 73 million (yes, million) sharks are killed, and for nothing more than their fins. The method of harvesting the fins is unbelievably cruel and inhumane: once the shark is hauled out of the water, the fisherman hack off all four of its fins, then, while it is still living, it is tossed back into the water where it either drowns or bleeds to death. What’s even worse is that there is no discrimination between endangered species or not, meaning that often times poachers won’t hesitate before finning on a marine reserve. Nor does it matter whether the shark is fully matured. This is a problem because, unlike most fish, sharks mature slowly (some taking up to 9 years), and rather than laying hundreds of eggs, sharks give birth to one or two pups a litter.
And what could possibly warrant this mass slaughter taking place in our oceans? Why, nothing more than a bowl of soup. You see, in China, Shark-fin soup is a traditional dish used in weddings, anniversaries, and other events like that; but it is also a status symbol. So of course, with the rise of China’s middle class, there comes a rise in demand for the soup, simply to show you can. On the Chinese markets, fins can go far over $100 per kilo. At that price, and so little opposition from the law, it’s no wonder so many fisherman have begun finning.
But there is still hope for shark populations, already it has been noted that the younger generation in China is far less interested in shark-fin soup, and many famous people from China (Jackie Chan and Ang Lee for example) have begun speaking out against finning. In addition to raising awareness in China, many countries have begun to seriously look at finning as a problem. Recently, right here in the US, legislation was passed banning fisherman from finning sharks at sea, as well as not allowing the fins to be removed if they weigh more than 5% the dressed (gutted, head removed) shark, meaning most sharks will be allowed to mature.
Although finning is still technically legal, this was a great step forward in regulating the number of sharks killed through finning. Personally, I don’t believe that finning could really be made illegal, because there’s such an established market for them. I do believe that we should take this regulation further, like requiring anyone wanting to fin sharks to have a permit, and have a quota of fins that could be collected by one vessel. Anyone caught with fins on board their ship would be faced with a fine greater than whatever profit could be made off of the fins. If the fine is not paid, those evading it would ideally face jail time, or have their boat taken from them. In my mind, this seems like an effective way of keeping shark populations from being decimated.
Now, there is a predator that threatens shark’s the world over. That predator is us, humans. While ten people a year dying from shark attacks may still seem large enough to some people, it is nothing in comparison to the horrifying number of sharks that are brutally killed each year by humans.
Every year somewhere between 35 and 73 million (yes, million) sharks are killed, and for nothing more than their fins. The method of harvesting the fins is unbelievably cruel and inhumane: once the shark is hauled out of the water, the fisherman hack off all four of its fins, then, while it is still living, it is tossed back into the water where it either drowns or bleeds to death. What’s even worse is that there is no discrimination between endangered species or not, meaning that often times poachers won’t hesitate before finning on a marine reserve. Nor does it matter whether the shark is fully matured. This is a problem because, unlike most fish, sharks mature slowly (some taking up to 9 years), and rather than laying hundreds of eggs, sharks give birth to one or two pups a litter.
And what could possibly warrant this mass slaughter taking place in our oceans? Why, nothing more than a bowl of soup. You see, in China, Shark-fin soup is a traditional dish used in weddings, anniversaries, and other events like that; but it is also a status symbol. So of course, with the rise of China’s middle class, there comes a rise in demand for the soup, simply to show you can. On the Chinese markets, fins can go far over $100 per kilo. At that price, and so little opposition from the law, it’s no wonder so many fisherman have begun finning.
But there is still hope for shark populations, already it has been noted that the younger generation in China is far less interested in shark-fin soup, and many famous people from China (Jackie Chan and Ang Lee for example) have begun speaking out against finning. In addition to raising awareness in China, many countries have begun to seriously look at finning as a problem. Recently, right here in the US, legislation was passed banning fisherman from finning sharks at sea, as well as not allowing the fins to be removed if they weigh more than 5% the dressed (gutted, head removed) shark, meaning most sharks will be allowed to mature.
Although finning is still technically legal, this was a great step forward in regulating the number of sharks killed through finning. Personally, I don’t believe that finning could really be made illegal, because there’s such an established market for them. I do believe that we should take this regulation further, like requiring anyone wanting to fin sharks to have a permit, and have a quota of fins that could be collected by one vessel. Anyone caught with fins on board their ship would be faced with a fine greater than whatever profit could be made off of the fins. If the fine is not paid, those evading it would ideally face jail time, or have their boat taken from them. In my mind, this seems like an effective way of keeping shark populations from being decimated.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Shark Finning [abstract]
Few people ever give sharks a second thought, but if we are to maintain our oceans, that needs to change. While many people fear sharks, the reality of the matter is that sharks kill about 10 people annually, while humans kill +30 million annually. Sharks are a vital part of the marine ecosystem; they were around even before the dinosaurs, and have been the top predators for millennia. If they were to disappear, the entire ecosystem would be thrown out of balance. Animals that were kept in check by the shark’s populations would boom, and with the increase of so many other predators, there would come a large decrease of many prey fish. Reef systems, and other marine habitats, would fall apart; and our own food supply would suffer. However, the root of this problem truly has no bad intentions. The cause of the near genocide that is taking place in our oceans is the result of the demand for one particular bowl of soup. In china, Shark fin soup has been a sign of wealth for centuries, and with the recent increase in the nations middle class, came an increase in demand for shark fin.
The methods that fisherman use when collecting fins from sharks is cruel, and savage; shark meat is of very little value, and most sharks take up lots of space on fishing vessels. This has lead fisherman to simply cut-off the fin of the shark, and dump the often times still living shark back into the water, where it dies a horrible death, either drowning or sinking to the sea floor where they are eaten alive by other fish. Sharks are generally unprotected, and even those that are considered endangered, or reside in marine reserves, are harvested for their fins. Not only are they unprotected, but there is no true regulation of the shark-finning market. In some cases, it is required that the fins be returned to port with the body they came from, but most times, there is no one taking inventory of the number of fins-per-body, and the rule is generally unenforced.
The solution, I believe, should be to gradually add more regulation to the shark-finning market, if not find some alternative to the cruel practice, or completely banning it (I propose regulating first, because it is unlikely that the Chinese middle/upper class would be willing to make a change to what they know as a centuries-old status symbol, and they would likely take offense if we were to ban shark-finning). To regulate the market would take a global effort, so it would probably be easiest to lead by example, and require anyone fishing for sharks specifically to have a permit that allows them to. We should also put a quota of how many any one vessel can harvest, and require the sharks be returned to port fins attached. Anyone who breaks the rule, finning at sea, would lose their permit. If a vessel has lost its permit, it would be searched every time it comes back to port, and if it is caught with sharks, or their fins, on board, they will have their shark-fishing hooks (if they use them) confiscated, and be fined. If the fine is not paid, the boat will be taken.
The methods that fisherman use when collecting fins from sharks is cruel, and savage; shark meat is of very little value, and most sharks take up lots of space on fishing vessels. This has lead fisherman to simply cut-off the fin of the shark, and dump the often times still living shark back into the water, where it dies a horrible death, either drowning or sinking to the sea floor where they are eaten alive by other fish. Sharks are generally unprotected, and even those that are considered endangered, or reside in marine reserves, are harvested for their fins. Not only are they unprotected, but there is no true regulation of the shark-finning market. In some cases, it is required that the fins be returned to port with the body they came from, but most times, there is no one taking inventory of the number of fins-per-body, and the rule is generally unenforced.
The solution, I believe, should be to gradually add more regulation to the shark-finning market, if not find some alternative to the cruel practice, or completely banning it (I propose regulating first, because it is unlikely that the Chinese middle/upper class would be willing to make a change to what they know as a centuries-old status symbol, and they would likely take offense if we were to ban shark-finning). To regulate the market would take a global effort, so it would probably be easiest to lead by example, and require anyone fishing for sharks specifically to have a permit that allows them to. We should also put a quota of how many any one vessel can harvest, and require the sharks be returned to port fins attached. Anyone who breaks the rule, finning at sea, would lose their permit. If a vessel has lost its permit, it would be searched every time it comes back to port, and if it is caught with sharks, or their fins, on board, they will have their shark-fishing hooks (if they use them) confiscated, and be fined. If the fine is not paid, the boat will be taken.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
In Defense of Food
Why do people choose to eat products that are unhealthy for them?
Because its easier/cheaper to get a hold of, and it's what most people are now used to eating.
What roles/responsibilities does the gov't have in framing your traces?
-Product management?
-Education?
I, personally, believe that should try and regulate the amount of chemicals put into our food, but I doubt they will, even if they could.
Because its easier/cheaper to get a hold of, and it's what most people are now used to eating.
What roles/responsibilities does the gov't have in framing your traces?
-Product management?
-Education?
I, personally, believe that should try and regulate the amount of chemicals put into our food, but I doubt they will, even if they could.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Barder the Flying Dog
Kevin Baileys parents were both in the military. They had no one else to take care of Kevin in the states. so they took him wherever they went. So when they were both sent to Pakistan, they of course took him with them.
They didn't want Kevin leaving the base at all, but there were no other children there, so his parents decided to get him a dog, Barder. Kevin and Barder quickly became best friends. One of their favorite tings to do was dig, Kevin had tried to build a sand castle a few times, but the sand was far too dry.
One day, while Kevin and Barder were digging, they hit a wierd door like thing. They opened it up, only to find a wierd old man with a great big beard hiding inside. The man looked absolutely horrified at first, but then, realising that it was a child and his dog who found him, he quickly thought up a way to trick them into telling no one they had found him.
He told Kevin that he would give him his "Magic Turbin" if he didn't tell anyone he was there. Kevin, of course, grew excited at the thought of a new thing to play with, and agreed. The man said that he needed to preform a spell before it would work, he then spoke a bunch of gibberish, while putting some LSD he had inside the turbin, then handed it to Kevin. Kevin took it excitedly, and asked, "what was that you put inside, Mister?", The old man replied, "Umm... Fairy dust, now when you wear that turbin, you can fly!". "thanks Mister magic guy, I promise I won't tell anyone you're here!" said Kevin.
Kevin then closed the hatch, and covered it up, then put on the turbin. He suddenly felt a strange rush, jumped on Barders back and shouted, "I'm flying!"
They didn't want Kevin leaving the base at all, but there were no other children there, so his parents decided to get him a dog, Barder. Kevin and Barder quickly became best friends. One of their favorite tings to do was dig, Kevin had tried to build a sand castle a few times, but the sand was far too dry.
One day, while Kevin and Barder were digging, they hit a wierd door like thing. They opened it up, only to find a wierd old man with a great big beard hiding inside. The man looked absolutely horrified at first, but then, realising that it was a child and his dog who found him, he quickly thought up a way to trick them into telling no one they had found him.
He told Kevin that he would give him his "Magic Turbin" if he didn't tell anyone he was there. Kevin, of course, grew excited at the thought of a new thing to play with, and agreed. The man said that he needed to preform a spell before it would work, he then spoke a bunch of gibberish, while putting some LSD he had inside the turbin, then handed it to Kevin. Kevin took it excitedly, and asked, "what was that you put inside, Mister?", The old man replied, "Umm... Fairy dust, now when you wear that turbin, you can fly!". "thanks Mister magic guy, I promise I won't tell anyone you're here!" said Kevin.
Kevin then closed the hatch, and covered it up, then put on the turbin. He suddenly felt a strange rush, jumped on Barders back and shouted, "I'm flying!"
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Should the U.S. Get involved in...
The prompt given to us was, "should the U.S. help out in Mexico, Uganda, or England?"
I, personally, don't think we could even afford to get involved in any other country right now. While I have heard about all the violence and riots in Uganda, and I wish we could do something to help sort things out, we already made the mistake of going to the Middle-East, and seem like we're going to have our military stuck there for sometime. I also know of the problems in Mexico, such as the violence with the Cartels. I live just a couple hours away from the border, and do worry about the violence spilling over into the U.S. sometimes, but again, I'm not sure we should "get involved".
I, personally, don't think we could even afford to get involved in any other country right now. While I have heard about all the violence and riots in Uganda, and I wish we could do something to help sort things out, we already made the mistake of going to the Middle-East, and seem like we're going to have our military stuck there for sometime. I also know of the problems in Mexico, such as the violence with the Cartels. I live just a couple hours away from the border, and do worry about the violence spilling over into the U.S. sometimes, but again, I'm not sure we should "get involved".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)