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7/28/2016

Studied into Extinction?

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The recent white shark population study from South Africa and the rebuttal from other South African researchers brings to the surface a question that constantly swims in the back of my head.

When does data collection begin and conservation begin?  

Accurate data, is of course desired, and the efforts of many researchers should be commended, but historically speaking there will always be debates regarding population studies (this isn’t the first study to come out of South Africa indicating low numbers for white sharks by the way, in fact one of the same names involved in that study are debating the new study).  Science doesn’t always agree with science.  Furthermore, as long as lobbyists exist scientists will continuously be sent back to the field to get “better and more convincing data" until they are finally tasked with proving to politicians that a population of two isn’t enough to sustain a species.  

Are we on a hamster wheel of studying animals as they disappear from the earth?

As studies rage on a seemingly insurmountable number of survival obstacles continue to stack up against sharks; Climate change, decimated food resources, habitat destruction, long lining, seine nets, super trawlers, the tuna industry, the finning industry, culling, poaching, legal fishing, and the one we all seem to forget…natural mortality (just because a shark is born and not killed by a human doesn’t mean it survives).
White Shark, South African White Shark, South African white shark population study, Skyler Thomas, Maarten Jozef Billen, WSV, White Shark Video
One of South Africa's white sharks, captured by MJ Billen
​Not so long ago a different study was released based on California’s white shark population indicating that the North Pacific’s numbers were low.  This study also gained international attention…and scrutiny.  

What that study accomplished was to temporarily increase protection for white sharks (moving their classification from vulnerable to endangered).  Guess who was the most upset about this protection?  Researchers.  And who is making the biggest fuss in South Africa?  Researchers.

In California it is was Marine CSI making the most noise.  In South Africa the members of the “White Shark Research Group” are the ones complaining.  If the goal of research is to find a way to protect the species one might naturally wonder why researchers would be so upset about the animals receiving increased protection.

My opinion on the matter has admittedly been influenced by interviews with researchers who previously were involved in white shark tagging programs and chose to walk away from tagging completely.  Why?  The realization that continuing to tag (and potentially harm) the animals was not yielding conservation results.  As Chris Fallows puts it, “Who’s benefitting, the researchers or the sharks?”

Now let’s take another look at Marine CSI and the South Africa Research Group.  Marine CSI made their mark when they got on TV with Chris Fischer and OCEARCH, allowing the fishing team to use their research permit to hook and haul great white sharks onto the deck of boats to drill SPOT tags into the dorsal fins.  Now look at the names on the list of the “White Shark Research Group”, several of which off the top of my head also worked with OCEARCH when they took their TV show to South Africa to continue more of the same invasive research.  Theory being that these researchers don’t like the idea that they might not get to continue their invasive research.

So is it about the sharks or about research-based careers?

In 1991 the white shark was protected in South Africa as a result of a social movement.  They’ve been studied ever since and received no further protection despite what has or hasn’t been learned.  And all you OCEARCH fans out there - none of you have been able to produce evidence of conservation being achieved through any organization that has collaborated with them other than the generic statement of saying “it creates awareness”. Great.  That’s as meaningless a statement as Trump saying “Let’s make America great again."

There may be more white sharks than any of us ever guessed and there may be fewer.  But do we have to wait until everyone agrees they are critically endangered to make a move?  Would it be so terrible to have a species other than our own flourish?  As is stands there are more humans in the skyscraper I’m typing this blog in than there are white sharks on the planet, and that is sad.
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  • Shark Blog
    • Watching Humans Blog
  • Monsters
  • About
    • Monsters - Project Overview
  • Education / Events
    • Presentations
    • Bookings
    • Feedback
    • Past Events >
      • Shark Night
      • Sharktoberfest 2018
      • Surfrider Sharktober 2018
      • Surfrider Foundation (San Mateo Chapter)
      • Night Life 2013 "Killer Personalities"
      • 7 Teepees
      • Great White Lies San Francisco Premiere
      • SF March Against the Cull
      • Great White Night 2012
      • Night Life 2011
      • Gentlemen's Club
      • Scuba Squad Divers
      • Sharks and Beer
      • Launch Party / Fundraiser
      • Of Whale and Man
    • FALSE CONSERVATION >
      • OCEARCH >
        • OCEARCH OVERVIEW
        • Internal Damage
        • Fin Damage >
          • Frodo's Fin Damage Timeline
        • OCEARCH's Pregnant Shark Not Pregnant
        • Science...without the Science
        • OCEARCH Videos >
          • Sinking Away
          • Not Stressed
          • Charlie Rose 1
          • Dorsal Fin Damage
          • PAT tags VS. SPOT tags
          • Tagging Options
          • Message to Australia
  • Videos
    • Stupid Things People Say About Sharks
    • Racism and Sharks
    • Connection
    • 360s Drones and Sharks
    • Footage Licensing
    • Tiger Shark Vs. Turtle
    • Guadalupe Cage Dive Guide
    • minioncam
    • Guadalupe White Sharks 2018
    • Product Reviews
    • Interviews >
      • Guadalupe 2018 Interview
      • Andre Rerekuru
      • RodneyFox
      • Chris Neff >
        • Cape Cod Cull
      • WalterBernardis
    • SharkMinutes
    • Kid Friendly >
      • Blueprint
    • Feature Films >
      • Monsters >
        • Enterprise Documentary Fund
      • Great White Lies >
        • Film Festivals >
          • Dropbox Links Great White Lies
    • Short Films >
      • Victory Over Sharks
      • Mothers and Children
      • Sentience
      • Elasmo
      • Shark Rescue
      • Balance
      • Shark Affection
      • Purpose
      • To Touch a Killer
      • Swimming In Shark Alley
      • White Shark Behavior: Part 1
      • Connection
      • Farallon Islands
      • Sustainable
      • Fear
    • Quick Bites >
      • Nurse Shark Barbels in Slow Motion
      • Do Sharks Get Cancer?
      • Sydney Harbor Video of White Shark is Fake
      • White Shark Swallows Tuna in One Bite
      • Gentle Biting and Ram Ventilation
      • Hammerhead Love
      • Seal Swims Leisurely Around White Sharks
      • Great White High Five
      • Petting a Nurse Shark
      • White Shark Tail Narrowly Misses Woman
      • Shark Shart ( Great White takes a shit )
      • WSV Preview
    • Elasmo >
      • Elasmo 0
      • Elasmo 1 and 2
      • Elasmo 3
      • Elasmo 3 Short Version
      • Elasmo 4 (Blue Sharks)
      • Elasmo 5 - Great hammerheads
      • White Dream (short)
    • Surf >
      • Surfing With Sharks - Wayne Lynch
      • California >
        • Jetty, Half Moon Bay, 2/16/14
    • The Price of Existence >
      • Criminalizing Natural Behavior
      • Price of Existence Excerpts with Chris Fallows
      • Dr. Neil Hammerschlag Explains Responsible Drum Lining
      • Price of Existence Trailer
      • Global Opposition to the Cull
      • Daniel Wolfe Interview Exerpt
    • Outtakes >
      • Surfer Interview Outtake
      • Avoiding Gansbaai
      • The Bag Boy
    • Samples
    • Videos from Others >
      • Good Vids >
        • White Shark Research in New Zealand
        • The Shark Man (60 Minutes)
        • Baby White Shark Caught
      • Bad Vids >
        • All that is wrong with Discovery wrapped up in one vid