Commercial shark fishing has decimated shark stocks throughout the world.
Some estimates have stated that shark population numbers have been reduced by as much as 90% in the last 30 years [Pratt, H. L. Jr et al. 1990].
Commercial shark fishing has been increasing to meet the huge demand for shark fin soup in many asian nations [Julie Chao. 2007] .
This practice is currently legal in Australian waters, even within the Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia's key marine tourism locations.
The Australian Government needs to acknowledge that there is a considerable lack of reliable data on which to base shark management, their inherent vulnerability to overfishing and that the prospects for achieving ecologically sustainable shark fisheries in the future are very low [Robbins et al. 2006]
This petition is being made to the Ministers responsible for the sustainable management of commercial fishing stocks throughout Australia and shall request that a ban be placed on commercial shark fishing within Australian waters to allow the stocks to replenish to a sustainable level.
Please support this cause to protect sharks from becoming further endangered by signing this petition.
Yours Sincerely
Nicholas L.T. Hart and Susan S. Tong
References
Julie Chao (2004-05-19). "Chinese Taste for Endangered Seafood Growing". Cox News Service. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
Pratt, H. L. Jr.; Gruber, S. H. & Taniuchi, T. (1990). Elasmobranchs as living resources: Advances in the biology, ecology, systematics, and the status of the fisheries. NOAA Tech Rept. (90).
Robbins WD, Hisano M, Connolly SR, Choat JH (2006) Ongoing Collapse of Coral-Reef Shark Populations. Current Biology 16:2314-2319
Photo Link: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tcKghQNelgI/S7lSJN7pMhI/AAAAAAAAACI/VRPXxRoSn4Q/s1600/shark_finning_sharks_fin_being_cut_off1.jpg
We the undersigned request that commercial shark fishing be banned within Australian waters until shark populations have recovered to sustainable levels.
Commercial shark fishing has decimated shark stocks throughout the world.
Some estimates have stated that shark population numbers have been reduced by as much as 90% in the last 30 years [Pratt, H. L. Jr et al. 1990].
Commercial shark fishing has been increasing to meet the huge demand for shark fin soup in many asian nations [Julie Chao. 2007] .
This practice is currently legal in Australian waters, even within the Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia's key marine tourism locations.
The Australian Government needs to acknowledge that there is a considerable lack of reliable data on which to base shark management, their inherent vulnerability to overfishing and that the prospects for achieving ecologically sustainable shark fisheries in the future are very low [Robbins et al. 2006]
We, as petitioners and signatories request that a ban be placed on commercial shark fishing within Australian waters to allow the stocks to replenish to a sustainable level.
Yours Sincerely
Nicholas L.T. Hart and Susan S. Tong
References
Julie Chao (2004-05-19). "Chinese Taste for Endangered Seafood Growing". Cox News Service. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
Pratt, H. L. Jr.; Gruber, S. H. & Taniuchi, T. (1990). Elasmobranchs as living resources: Advances in the biology, ecology, systematics, and the status of the fisheries. NOAA Tech Rept. (90).
Robbins WD, Hisano M, Connolly SR, Choat JH (2006) Ongoing Collapse of Coral-Reef Shark Populations. Current Biology 16:2314-2319
