Well, I'm not sure what thatch is talking about, but Frank Mundus isn't a big fan of shark fishing tournaments. We all know him. And we know how he makes a living.
Honestly, 46 sharks last year... Is that really a big deal? Hmmmm... Well, first off, that's only one tournament. Second, that doesn't count the sharks among the 2,500 hooked that didn't survive the experience. Third, that tournament was shortened by bad weather, so the typical kill would be higher. Fourth, the analogy to beef cattle fails because sharks are wild animals, not livestock -- they're not bred in captivity, fed when needed, provided with medical care and protection from predators; their population thus is not supported and sustained, and removing them from the ecosystem has a significant impact. Fifth, there's no indication that the sharks were "used for something after they were caught" except perhaps to serve as models for a taxidermist to create trophies. That may or may not add up to a "big deal" in your book. OTOH, I tend to think that we really need to stop requiring a certificate of big-deal-ness before we'll consider refraining from possibly problematic behavior. Trophy tournaments provide fun, props and tropies for a few -- is that such a huge positive good that it merits blowing off concerns about negative consequences?
Sharks are fucking fascinating. What a critter - not to mention a cornerstone species. Tourneys such as these are, well, pretty much the antithesis of that kind of sentiment. Not my bag, for sure - though I do like to fish.
How To Fuck Up An Ecosystem 101: Remove the dominant predator. Down here there are moves on to protect the Great White - in Australian waters at least. A number of survivors of shark attacks have even stated that they don't want the sharks hunted down and killed afterwards, despite the occasional nutter who wants to go out seeking 'revenge'. Revenge for what? Entering the shark's habitat and territory?
George's Bank once the greatest fishing grounds in the world is a fished out waste land (also the setting of "The Perfect Storm") hence the reference. Of course we are talking about guys who consider canned hunts with a guide sport..
Yeah! *nod* What? There's nothing to add to bat's and owlhouse's remarks, which sum it up perfectly. Of course, there might be a silver lining. Wipe out the shark and you remove the risk of anyone ever again writing such a terrible novel. Seriously. Only scenario I can ever think of where the film was better than the book. By miles.
I wonder if Beatrix Potter was opposed to rabbit hunting?
I have it on good authority that a.a. milne used teddy bears as kindling.
