Thread: smh hammerhead landed on pier south fl

Hammerhead shark caught from pier raises debate over ethical catches - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.comhttp://youtu.be/sHe2LexBSU8

Good read. I like that it mentions that millions of pounds of hammerhead fins are sold in foreign markets, but they worry about the few handful of large sharks that get caught from shore by recreational fishermen. I don't live anywhere near the ocean but the tightening regulations even drive me mad.

Originally Posted by Mattb

Good read. I like that it mentions that millions of pounds of hammerhead fins are sold in foreign markets, but they worry about the few handful of large sharks that get caught from shore by recreational fishermen. I don't live anywhere near the ocean but the tightening regulations even drive me mad.

Of course harvesting a legal fish for use is OK, and releasing a big fish (even if not 100% successful) is absolutely more desirable than hanging it on the scales (survival rate 0%). But to ask a rhetorical question, when should those non-fishermen in the article start to worry about extinction of a species? When there are 20 left, or 200, or 2,000? Then it will be too late. The problem is, not everyone cares. In fact, we in the U.S. may think no one else in the world cares, and people will be fighting to eat the last shark's fins. I can do nothing about China's shark-fin obsession and their ignorance of the issues. I can only release fish I won't use.


I think sometimes we underestimate the effect of one sportsman. Look at largemouth bass tournaments -- sure a few fish are killed along the way but the catch and release ethic of B.A.S.S. has expanded into society to the point that in some states authorities want anglers to keep more bass to prevent overpopulation. The theory that the ocean is too big to ever "fish out" like a lake is clearly wrong, and the genetics of the "biggest fish" need to stay in the pool, just as deer hunters are starting to realize that shooting only the trophy bucks skews the genetic mix.