Respect for fish Day, August 1, 2024 Newsletter
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August 1 is Respect for Fish Day, an international day of recognition of our finny relatives who unlike mammals, never left the primordial ocean to walk the land or fly the skies. An oft-repeated stance among fishermen, and even chefs, is that fish do not feel pain, justifying their actions dismembering fish live, gaffing them in the gills or allowing these water breathing animals to beat about the decks and piers to suffocate or bleed to death for recreation.
Hawaiian Yellow Tangs, (Lau’ipala) have recovered after 5 years of closure from the aquarium trade. Now, the state board is considering reissuing permits to aquarium collectors in West Hawaii.
Add your comments to protect these reef cleaners from collectors and exporters.
Ethical arguments about killing an animal for sport or entertainment aside, there is a preponderance of scientific evidence that fish do feel pain.
Even worse, Illegal fishing and shark finning are overfishing sharks in a brutal and unsustainable manner. Tons of fish and products caught illegally are imported into the USA. Proper tracing, labeling and regulating seafood imports is a new initiative we are supporting in Congress, sponsored by Huffman (D CA-02).
Watch our videos online, or join in person in San Francisco at Aquatic Park, August 3rd with In Defense of Animals and PETA. Bring a sign, wear a shark costume and give voice to stop overfishing sharks and consider fish as wildlife not just seafood!
One third of all sharks and rays including the Bowmouth Guitarfish Ray (above), the Oceanic Whitetip and Scalloped Hammerhead sharks are threatened with extinction. Coveted for their fins, these fish are now critically endangered.
Saving Endangered Sharks
Three-quarters (77%) of oceanic shark and ray species now qualify as threatened with extinction under the Red List criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Sign our petition to the International tuna fisheries to reduce endangered shark retention and bycatch.
Its Shark Season. How Worried Should You Be?
Sharks are in the news with increased attention in the Gulf, Cape Cod, California and Oahu. Yet how worried should you be about a shark attack? Check out Erik Vance’s New York Times article with ours and other expert analysis on risk. If you aren’t a Times subscriber, learn here how you can avoid a shark attack, and still be safe in the ocean.
On the west coast, join us for our annual Sharktoberfest with the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, or on an expedition to the Devil’s Teeth this Sharktober, to celebrate sharks and marine protection.
Shark Awareness Day Kona was a great success with over $1500 raised for our Hawaiian community at the Kalnihale.org. Watch for future screenings of Kahu Manō along with Brittany Bigg’s brilliant animation Manō in support of increasing Hawaii sharks and marine protection. Thank you from the ohana (family) and Keiki (children) for your donations and support for community based marine protection.
To keep sharks swimming, it is urgent we work together with communities and conservation. Join the team and help keep sharks and marine ecosystems alive and thriving! Join one of our bi-weekly team meetings and pitch in. We need content writers, grant research and donor development, as well as hands on engagement!
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With your support, we keep sharks swimming and the ocean healthy. We value your time, your passion, and any size donation. Shark Stewards is rated highest by Charity Navigator, Platinum-ranked by GuideStar, a member of 1% for the Planet, and a proud project of the Earth Island Institute, a federally registered 501(c)3 non profit.
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