|
So what could this mean for our own species down the road? Baum says
if something is not done to conserve the resource, there will be a “cascading
effect throughout the ‘food web.’” She admits that specific outcomes can’t
be determined at present, but asserts that removing the top layer of the
food chain is not a good thing. Baum also cautions that if steps are not
taken soon, we could see “local extinction,” which raises the question:
Where do we go from here? Especially when commercial and recreational
angling is such big business.
According to the Dalhousie team, one measure that would help is marine
reserves&$151;in other words, mapping out specific areas where sharks seem
to gather (perhaps to spawn) and limiting or preventing fishing in those
sections at specified times. Baum warns, “Although marine reserves could
play an important role, they will not solve the problem.” She adds that
getting reserves put in place and restricting an ever-shrinking fishery
is going to be a “contentious” issue. But, in spite of the hurdles, Baum
and the Dalhousie researchers remain optimistic for the sharks’ future.
“To me, it’s not a hopeless situation. We know very clearly it’s an exploitation
issue,” she says. “Implementing management [of the fishery] is not going
to be easy, but this isn’t some type of mystery in the ecosystem.” The
Dalhousie sharks, which include many more species than mentioned in this
column, are simply fished beyond their capacity to replenish themselves.
For most fishermen I know, conservation is always at the forefront, and
cooperative management can have a positive impact. One success story in
the Northeast is the return of the striped bass. The population has rebounded
in explosive fashion with proper management. However, almost everyone
knows sharks take a long time to mature and reproduce, and many species
(such as the great white, dusky, longfin mako, and bigeye thresher) are
already prohibited targets. There are also no guarantees for recovery,
like in the case of Canada’s codfish. But it seems that to ensure that
there will be any fishery available for future generations, we must all
do something ASAP.
It’s unrealistic for anglers to stop fishing (I know I can’t), but maybe
we should look to release even more often than we already do and seek
out cooperative research programs like the Apex Predators. Perhaps we
should reach for the camera more often than the flying gaff. Many tournaments
now have tag-and-release categories, and that’s a good thing. After all,
these impressive creatures are not monsters, they’re fish. And like the
beat-down striped bass of the 1980’s, the sharks need our help before
the time comes when we will only be able to see them through an acrylic
window.
Next page >
Feeding Frenzy, Part 1 > Page 1,
2
|