Ring a bell? Click for detail - source.
Very nice, and thanks!
The part about Shark feeding mostly echoes what we've been asserting for now many years, to wit
this rather random collection of posts. And check
this out, too - or if you really got too much time on your hands, feel free to peruse
this about Shark feeding in particular and
this about our industry in general!
Yes it is complicated - but then again, maybe not so much!
And the conservation aspect?
Yes some of us very much including Martin's
Shark Diver are deeply embedded into conservation, and there is even
a global alliance of Shark diving operators w
hose members
must have a track record of being active in both conservation and research.
But I would argue that we are the exception.
Yes nowadays everybody is "Eco", and everybody is
raising awareness and
dispelling the myth, and
all of that nonsense.
But the Shark diving industry is obviously a business where one needs to
make a profit - and whereas those breathy pronouncements that one is doing it
For the Sharks are cheap, pun intended, actually devoting resources to conservation (and research)
is costly and time consuming - even if in the long term, protecting
one's principal business asset would obviously be a great business
strategy!
And all those awareness-raising media?
I will even concede that even when
prima facie it's
all about personal vanity and $$$, the heart is often in the right place. But as per
the comment of JoySeaGal,
I can categorically assure you that when advocating Shark conservation
with the Authorities, those narcissistic media count for less than
nothing!
Oh and incidentally,
this is how you do it correctly = this is strategic, intelligent, focused, targeted and with zero personal ego involved!
Anyway.
Ultimately, one has to look at real track records.
Ultimately,
the only thing that counts are tangible benefits for Shark populations -
and there, the overall impact of Shark diving operators is rather
dismal, especially when compared to the awesome potential.
Alas!
But I'm digressing as always.
Thank you Martin - and yes I will gladly confess that we are mighty proud of
our achievements.
Shark tourism is
certainly not the be-all and end-all solution to Shark overfishing, and much remains to be done,
also in Fiji - but we're certainly working on it, and we're even
collecting funds for implementing some forward-looking local remedies.
In diesem Sinne - let's go Shark diving!
Vinaka Vakalevu.