WASHINGTON – In a break for sharks living off the coast of Destin, Fla. the Destin History and Fishing Museum has voted unanimously to discontinue the Destin Deep Water Shark Tournament. The Humane Society of the United States applauds the decision and urges other communities to take similar steps to end shark tournaments.
"We commend the Destin Board members for being open to change and for voting to end the tournament," said Dr. John Grandy, senior vice president for wildlife and habitat protection for The Humane Society of the United States. "Shark tournaments are destructive killing contests that breed disrespect for these beleaguered animals. We hope other coastal communities will recognized the plight of sharks and follow Destin's progressive lead."
Over the past year, staffers from The HSUS met with Destin officials to discuss the effects the cruel tournaments have on shark populations. Citizens, including M.C. Davis and Gail Powell, urged The HSUS to take action and supported the effort.
Shark killing contests target members of already imperiled populations of slow breeding and ecologically important shark species, and encourage negative perceptions of sharks and their environment.
The HSUS offered to work with Destin officials to set up a Shark Celebration in town this summer in place of the tournament.
Facts:
- The World Conservation Union (IUCN) released an updated listing of species of concern in 2006. Of the 547 species of sharks and rays evaluated, the IUCN lists 19 as critically endangered and 25 as endangered.
- Fully one fifth of all sharks and rays are considered to be threatened with extinction, and almost 100 others have insufficient information to evaluate their status.
- Sharks are long lived. Like whales, they are slow to reproduce and have very few young.
- At least 73 species of sharks inhabit the waters of the U.S. east coast, including the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at www.humanesociety.org.
