InTheDrink
Contributor
On a recent trip to Cocos we had endless evening debates on what can or cannot be done to save shark populations from further decimation.
My take was that a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the Chinese would be most effective. Sadly my companions favoured less confrontational approaches. I think they were worried about where they'd buy their TVs and iPods from.
My buddy wondered whether commercial shark farming might be viable, in the same way that salmon are farmed. He's quite a serious person, with some means also, so he was genuinely looking to find out whether this could be a viable commercial enterprise or not. Sure, it wouldn't be pretty - shark finning never could be - but if it could help preserve wild shark then it could have some significant merit.
Anyone any thoughts on what the major considerations would be for such an endeavour or any thoughts on whether this kind of endeavour is even vaguely feasible? e.g. reproductive cycles don't appear to work in favour of farming shark. What are the other variables that would need to be taken into consideration and has anyone ever tried commercial shark farming before?
I know that education would be the preferred mechanism to eradicate the appetite for shark fin soup, essentially to kill the demand side rather than looking to control the supply side, however even assuming an education program could be successful, it would take too long to take effect.
TIA,
J
My take was that a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the Chinese would be most effective. Sadly my companions favoured less confrontational approaches. I think they were worried about where they'd buy their TVs and iPods from.
My buddy wondered whether commercial shark farming might be viable, in the same way that salmon are farmed. He's quite a serious person, with some means also, so he was genuinely looking to find out whether this could be a viable commercial enterprise or not. Sure, it wouldn't be pretty - shark finning never could be - but if it could help preserve wild shark then it could have some significant merit.
Anyone any thoughts on what the major considerations would be for such an endeavour or any thoughts on whether this kind of endeavour is even vaguely feasible? e.g. reproductive cycles don't appear to work in favour of farming shark. What are the other variables that would need to be taken into consideration and has anyone ever tried commercial shark farming before?
I know that education would be the preferred mechanism to eradicate the appetite for shark fin soup, essentially to kill the demand side rather than looking to control the supply side, however even assuming an education program could be successful, it would take too long to take effect.
TIA,
J