The Yarmouth Shark Scramble is a prize fishing tournament in Nova Scotia, Canada where teams compete to catch the largest total weight of sharks or the largest weight of a single shark. The event organizers say that it is used as a fundraiser event for charity and that the catches are reported to the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans for scientific research. The event is described as a fishing derby targeting Blue, Mako and Thresher sharks. The organizer is TriNav Marine Brokerage (bgavel@trinav.com or 902-307-0795).
Sharks are vital to the balance and health of ocean life and given the fragile state of marine ecosystems with a global shark population that is critically endangered of collapse. We are calling on the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canadian Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Coast Guard to put an end to this trophy cull so that marine life may have a chance to thrive again in Canadian waters and globally. Biodiversity, species abundance of marine life depends on healthy shark populations.
Links to supporting articles from ocean conservation groups:
https://oceana.org/sites/default/files/reports/Predators_as_Prey_FINAL_FINAL1.pdf
https://www.keikoconservation.com/pages/sharks
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BX8wIMnEApQ
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4znopYBRQQA
https://stanford.edu/~ferretti/assets/LenfestRSEcologyLetters.pdf
https://www.seashepherd.org.au/apex-harmony/overview/shark-importance.html
http://sharkstewards.org/shark-science-education/ecosystem-effects-by-removing-sharks/
To end this trophy hunt, we are petitioning:
Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
102-3rd Street West
North Vancouver, BC
V7M 1E8
Ph: 604-775-6333
jonathan.wilkinson@parl.gc.ca
Yarmouth Shark Scramble organizer
Rachelle Surette
bgavel@trinav.com
902-307-0705
Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
902-426-2581
mary-ellen.valkenier@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Nova Scotia Premiere
Stephen McNeil
291 Marshall Street, Suite 2
Box 1420
Middleton, NS
B0S 1P0
1-800-317-8533
stephenmcneil@ns.aliantzinc.ca
Update #65 years ago
We have received a reply from the Canadian federal gov't dismissing our signatures with the excuses of "scientific research, catch and release, and non-endangered sharks"; their response:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HNJzrtMzM2abcFgHJYKw9rX5uoLgiFZq/view?usp=sharing
Please reply directly to: mary-ellen.valkenier@dfo-mpo.gc.ca and tell the Canadian gov't you do not accept this.
Also, urge the Nova Scotia premiere you will boycott atlantic fish and tourism: stephenmcneil@ns.aliantzinc.ca
Update #55 years ago
This petition has been delivered to Minister Jonathan Wilkinson from the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans as well as the organizer of the Yarmouth Shark Scramble. Sea Shepherd has been notified and so have the makers of Sharkwater Extinction who have endorsed this petition. Thank-you everybody for your support; this needless and cruel event is now known worldwide and the pressure is on them to do the right thing and close this event.
Update #45 years ago
The documentary "Sharkwater Extinction" produced by fellow Canadian, the late Rob Stewart, has opened and is screening in many places around the world at this time or very soon. This petition will be delivered very soon to the Canadian federal department of fisheries and oceans and it has been endorsed by the makers of the documentary. The organizers of this event have still not responded to the author of this petition. Thank-you for your support and we will succeed at shutting down this event.
Update #35 years ago
The organizers of this event have not responded to the creator of this petition since it launched. They can be contacted at doreen_saulnier@hotmail.ca or bgavel@trinav.com to let them know that you want this event shut down and it will be brought forward to the federal government. Thank you for your support and for the share of it by the creators of Sharkwater Extinction.
