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NFC: Fw: EDF_Action_Network alert: Stop Shark Finning in U.S. Waters
Here's what this alert is about:
Stop Shark Finning in U.S. Waters
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
You've received action alerts from us in the past requesting
your help to put an end to "shark finning" -- the cruel and
destructive practice of cutting off a shark's fins and
dumping its dead or dying carcass overboard. Some 60,000
blue sharks are finned each year, in almost complete
ignorance of the potential impacts of this practice on the
blue shark population or on the marine ecosystems of which
sharks are an integral part.
Thanks in large part to your efforts, the Hawaii legislature
has passed legislation that will ban shark-finning in state
waters (if the Governor signs it), and now the National
Marine Fisheries Service is now considering a petition to
ban shark-finning in all U.S. waters.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is being
lobbied heavily by fishing industry interests to deny the
petition and defer to a decision by the Western Pacific
Fishery Management Council to limit shark mortality to
50,000 per year. In our view, that is simply too weak and
not justified in light of our profound ignorance of the
impacts of killing that many sharks every year.
The voice of the public needs to heard! Please express your
support for a total ban on shark-finning to NMFS by May 12,
2000, their deadline for receiving comments.
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INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this
alert by going to the following URL:
http://actionnetwork.org/take-action.tcl?key=147997A7288B957973686C14995
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL:
Just choose the "reply to sender" option on your email program, and edit
the letter below as you wish. If your email program does not have
a "reply to sender" option, you can copy and paste the letter below into
a new email message and mail it to
alert-response-147997A7288B957973686C14995 at actionnetwork_org.
You must include the whole letter in your response including "-YOU MAY
EDIT THE LETTER BELOW-" and "-END OF LETTER-". Please do not
add your name and address to your letter. Action Network automatically
does this for you.
We STRONGLY encourage you to make edits directly to our sample letter
below, and put the alert talking points into your own words. An
individualized letter is worth ten computer generated letters. Of
course, hundreds of unedited letters will still create a large impact,
so please reply even if you don't have time to personalize the letter.
Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
Dr. Charles Karnella
-------YOU MAY EDIT THE LETTER BELOW---------
I am writing to express my strong support for the Western
Pacific Fisheries Coalition petition to ban shark-finning.
Long-line fishermen based in Hawaii killed over 100,000
sharks last year. Most of these were oceanic blue sharks.
Almost all were killed for their fins alone, which are used
to make shark-fin soup. Between 90 and 95% of the shark is
wasted.
Most sharks are very vulnerable to overexploitation due to
their long lives and low reproductive rates. While
proponents of shark finning claim that blue sharks are
highly productive, the latest scientific information
indicates that blue shark productivity is low to moderate.
There is almost no information on the impacts of the shark
catch on the sustainability of shark populations and their
marine biological communities. The Western Pacific Fishery
Management Council recently voted to allow the killing of
50,000 sharks a year. It is irresponsible to kill that many
sharks based on so little information.
Shark fins are sold on the black market on a cash-only
basis, generating no tax revenue for the state or federal
governments. Crew are allowed to fin sharks and keep the
profits, in part to make up for low wages. This is a cost
of business that should be borne by captains, vessel owners,
and legitimate fisheries, not by the sharks.
I therefore urge you to grant the Western Pacific Fisheries
Coalition petition to ban shark-finning. It would both
implement the precautionary approach and minimize waste,
achieving two important fisheries management goals. It
would also show respect and concern for this magnificent top
predator of the sea.
-------END OF LETTER-------------------------
Sincerely yours,
robert rice
2213 prytania circle
prytania circle
navaree, FL 32566
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