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Red List info
would just like to point out that this shark is not even considered vulnerable on the Red List. It is in the low risk category. I doubt, though that a population estimate has been carried out recently and it is obvious that this species needs a reassesment.
Governments will not waste their time protecting a commercially valuable species, which is not at high risk. Sad, but true. We wont ever do something until the sh!t hits the fan.
The fact that these sharks are being caught, is because there is the demand for them. The reality is, IMO, that you will have to crush the demand for these sharks in order to reduce the fishing of them, or find something else wrong with the way they are being caught. Long lining for instance can kill seabirds. So sometimes, it's not target specific.
There are actually a lot more sharks and other fish and marine species, which are at higher risk than this shark, and are still being commercially exploited.
We really do need to focus our limited efforts on species which are more at risk.
I don't like the thought of over 100 of these sharks being caught in one week, as much as any other, but to some extent I feel we are sucked in by the media. They report the fishing of a 100 odd sharks and we are up in arms... but you don't hear much about what is happening to cod for instance or salmon unless you look hard for the info. Basking sharks and leatherback turtles in the UK need more attention than the porbeagles IMO. Not saying that this shark issue does not deserve attention, just saying if you are going to get steamed up about this isse you really should be aware that there are many more issues to be concerned about also.
Looking at it from the flip side. I don't know this fisherman, but perhaps he's got a family to feed, perhaps he's had a really bad run of luck for many years and has been really struggling to make ends meet. I don't know if I was in his position that I would not go out and catch a bunch of sharks, which to my knowledge were not threatened much. I don't know that I wouldn't do that. I think it is very harsh to judge when you don't know the full story.
I support writing to VIPs about these issues, but I also think we need to spread the word among the public more about the consumption of overexploited marine life (including these sharks) and environmentally unfreindly ways of harvesting sea creatures.
Tell friends about the safe seafood lists...
go here to get links for the lists
Anyway - that's my 2 cents.
Call me extreme but I do think we are like the bacteria in the petri dish. I do think we are wiping the carpet out from our own feet and from every other species. We are the most destructive species on the planet and the only way to stop, is to stop making more of us! I am against having babies. Broody as I am, I do not feel that the world is going to be any better for any of us, of we leep replicating. Sadly, it is only people in developed countries that may share my thoughts, while developing countries will just keep getting more and more populated. But still, doesn't make me feel like I should just go ahead and make some more.... selfish genes.
The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement 
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!