End the overfishing of sharks in Japan
If you don't know much about sharks and the oceans, you might want to call them the 'Jaws of Death'. But if you are familiar with the complexity of the biological balance in the ecosystem of the oceans, you will know that those are indeed the 'Jaws of Life'.
They are maintaining the biological balance in that very complex marine ecosystem. The bigger sharks keep the numbers of other predator fish and smaller sharks at a viable level. If we humans continue to destroy this controlling factor in the ocean by highly sophisticated fishing techniques, long-line fishing and human greed, we will eventually create the largest ecological disaster in the history of mankind. One already existing consequence of overfishing is the removal of plant-eating animals such as parrotfishes, which has been partly responsible for the shift of Caribbean reefs from coral to algae dominated.
The only way to stop this process is to change the law, so that the shark population has a chance to replenish.
A person alone can%uFFFDt win the fight against the shark slaughter. But I am sure: If we pull together we can make a difference.
Dear Secretary Clinton,
We, the undersigned, urge you to work with the government of Japan to end the overfishing of sharks.
Sharks are a critical eco-factor: They keep the numbers of other predator fish at a viable level and help control the population of water birds and seals, who otherwise would eat too many small fish. If the exploitation of sharks is not stopped, our ecosystem will break down.
We ask you to help Japan change the existing law regarding shark fishing so that the shark population has a chance to replenish.
We the undersigned from around the world recognize and respect your long history of strength on animal welfare issues. Therefore, we look to you as Secretary of State of the United States to make ending the overfishing in Japan a high priority in all U.S. interactions with Prime Minister Mr. Naoto Kan and the government of Japan, and to engage other countries in ending this slaughter. Thank you.
