New Rules at Guadalupe!

Excellent news!
Watch.

Read this.

Following last year's cage breaches (again, BRAVO Katie Yonker!) at Guadalupe, CONANP have tightened the rules and re-designed the cages - details here. And it gets even better: at least for now, it appears that the rules (English here) are finally being enforced!

Case in point, the troglodytes are furious, see at top.

Like I said back then, they are but a tiny obnoxious minority that appears to have severely overstayed their welcome, and we can all only hope that this will motivate them to finally fuck off.

And this?

Will the authorities finally clamp down on the fake out-of-cage science by the likes of Ramsey and Winram, ban the people on the black list and fine, and scrap the operating licenses of the enablers?

As always we shall see. 

There are now official observers on the vessels, and the transgressions are becoming increasingly difficult - so here's to a stellar season: with real ecotourism, zero cage breaches, zero shenanigans and zero Guadalupe Shark porn on Discovery!

Yes I know I know.
But hope, as they say, springs eternal!

Shark Bite in Florida!

Nah don't worry I'm not gonna go there.

Just this.

Wishing Randy a successful reattachment and speedy recovery - and may there be a bloody learning curve, and may it be steep!
 

Fucking steel gloves anybody?

The Shark Whisperer: Terrifying Pictures!

This is a Great Hammerhead.

Depicted here by the incomparable Wolfgang Leander, it is majestic, enigmatic and unbelievably elegant, a true marvel, joy and privilege to behold.

It is also threatened with extinction.

Endangered is the second-worst category of the IUCN and I invite you to read about the many plights affecting this particular species, from the widespread deliberate targeting for the Shark fin trade to its devastating mortality when caught as bycatch to its continued persecution by trophy-hunting anglers right here on the IUCN Red List. 

Thankfully, the Hammerheads are now starting to be protected locally and internationally - but the effects of that protection are so far unknown and may well be severely curtailed by its extremely high post-release mortality, and international Shark conservationists remain gravely concerned.

Very shy and now also rare, it can only be reliably encountered in a very few select locations like e.g. Rangiroa where they aggregate during the Eagle Ray mating season.

And then, there is Bimini.

So far, nobody appears to know why the Hammers aggregate there in spring, but Doc's Sharklab is, respectfully, working on finding answers. And of course, as of late, the Sharks have been a boon for the local Shark diving industry that is desperately trying to preserve its precious asset, and the integrity of local Shark diving, by politely asking that visitors adhere to a set of common-sense rules.

And now have a look at this pathetic shit.

So this is Bill and Joe's take on Shark conservation messaging - and I'm revolted. 

I ask, could anything be more disrespectful than this repugnant sequence of grotesquely distorted toothy caricatures and depictions of human dominance - and stupid, exploitative, narcissistic and hypocritical to boot?

But worry not - I'm not gonna dwell. Tho I could!

Whereas responsible Shark diving operators are trying to elevate the industry to more sustainable levels, a subset of adrenaline seeking self-promoting yahoos are pushing Shark encounters to ever new lows. I call it Troglodyte Shark Diving, and its requirement for ever bigger and more inane thrills is progressively thrashing Shark diving sites from Florida to the Bahamas to Guadalupe and recently even Fiji. Despite of all the bullshit about wanting to change perceptions, yada yada, it is zero about conservation and all about some macho wannabee heroes wanting to flaunt their cojones, or whatever, by taking stupid risks, or manhandling and dominating the animals.

And about money and perceived fame.

Or as my wise friend once stated, way back then.

It stopped actually being "about sharks" a long time ago. 
It's about the individual and what the sharks as a vehicle to notoriety can do for them.

And this rant?

It will achieve nothing except for establishing yet another pathetic feud. But I'm happy that I've finally got it off my chest because I've been watching those folks and biting my tongue for way too long!

Tiger Beach - Troglodyte Shark Diving!

Source.

Watch.

And this is why I despise those folks.
No, no need to elaborate.

Randy Jordan, protecting Sharks!

Source.

Check out the video on Martin's blog.

It really beggars belief.

Why a Shark diving operator could ever do this and on top of it, think it was somehow cool to have a pal film and then post it on social media will forever elude me.

This is deeply repugnant, and shameful.

Pity they've only fined him - like I said, they should have shut him down.

And to my diver pals in Florida.

You really gotta stop giving this troglodyte your business. 

Bravo Martin for having preserved the evidence.

 

Troglodyte Operator convicted!

Source.

Watch this.

That would be this dude.

I of course bemoan the Florida Shark feeding ban - but the Law is the Law and like I said back then, as long as the protocols remain so poor, the ban is probably the best solution. Story here.

And in the meantime, the Bahamas are laughing all the way to the bank!

Oh - and have you seen this from Hawaii? 

WTF?

 

Florida - Troglodyte Shark Diving!

"Nice action picture"? Source.

Check this out.

I've now watched it four times, and still want to puke.

A pal writes, and Randy is going to get bit.... and my only thought is, yes please, and let it be bloody painful!

And let's hope the authorities shut him down!

This is everything Shark diving should not be.

Apart from being negligently dangerous (same-same here!) the demented wrangling and molesting of those poor little Tigers is abhorrent. Far from being cool or manly, or whatever, it simply documents an abject lack of the most basic respect for the animals and zero appreciation for the privilege of encountering them.

And let me add that as much as I usually oppose Shark feeding bans - as long as yahoos like that are dominating the local industry, it is probably best if Shark feeding in Florida remains illegal!

What the fuck!