It's Only Over When We Say......

I must admit right now I am very upset and disappointed with myself. At the end of last summer I decided that I would make a stand against the Mako Mania shark kill tournament. That tournament starts tomorrow. I will not be there bright and early to protest. I was not there tonight at the captains meeting protesting outside the doors. I spent a lot of time tonight staring east. Knowing that in just a few hours the seas will be running red with the blood of sharks once again off the coast of New Jersey. Not just the blood of makos either. Fisherman will be catching a large amount of dogfish as well. Chances are the dogfish will become bait. Both dogfish and makos are threatened with extinction. In fact the mako is in the same category as the great white. "Vulnerable."

I'm trying to think of a real reason that I will not be there. The only thing I can think of is that I lost the help of an organization that was going to help me try and change the tournament. Why that happened I'll never know, but what can I do. Now I'm taking matters into my own hands. Starting after the holidays I will be outlining a protest. Drawing up some signs. Finding out more information on the shortfin mako shark and try to educate the people running this tournament. Anyone who wants to help me. Please do. I've never really asked anyone for help before. Now I am. Things are desperate for the world's sharks and we're the only ones who can stop the maddness. The people who participate in these tourneys see sharks as trophies and money. They need a wake up call that the world's oceans are being destroyed because of it.

I may feel down right now about not being able to intervene in this disgusting tourney. It is here though that I will make a vow to do something next year. I can't just sit here and allow this tourney to continue slaughtering innocent animals in my home town.

Lay Down Your Arms.... Give Up The Fight...

Give up..... Give up...... Give up.... The ultimate question that plagues every challenge. Should I give up? Should I just allow all the work I've done to try and save the life of a fish go to waste? Should I give up in what I believe in? Should I just give in to all the "There's nothing you can do"? The answer to these questions is this.................. As long as their are sharks being finned, whales being harpooned, dolphins being stabbed, and seals being clubbed...... I WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING. I will continue to fight for what I believe in no matter what it may cost me. Someday I will venture into the ocean and see a shark in the wild for myself. I will go out to warm waters and find a whale shark and swim along side of it in the wild where they are free and well happy without the presence of man.

Just when hope looks lost, Hawaii bans the consumption and possession of shark fins, More and more Chinese Government agencies are starting to ban the consumption of shark fin soup at their functions. Culture indeed? Things are starting to look up, but there is so much still to do. Shark conservation continues to be on the rise, but the majority of people still do not know a thing about sharks and their plight.

Point Pleasant........ Just a perfect little seaside town complete with it's own drug trade, sandy beaches, fishing spots, good food, family establishments, and the ocean. Out of all of these the least known thing is the ocean. Off the beaches of this town live some of the greatest predators the world has ever known... Hammerheads, great whites, tigers, sand tigers, sandbar, nurse, basking, blue, whale, and porbeagle sharks are just A FEW of the species that live right off shore here in Point Pleasant. Out of all of these, the nurse shark is the only one not currently threatened with extinction. Thousands of people venture into the oceans of New Jersey every year and shark attacks are virtually none existent despite many species calling our waters home. This little seaside town needs to be educated about sharks and their plight as well as dolphins, seals, and whales. All of which can be found right here in NEW JERSEY!