2,000 Or More Sharks Massacred In Colombian Reserve; Fins Cut Off, Sharks Dumped To Die On Bottom

[hatrack]

Columbian government officials have reported that as many as 2,000 sharks have been killed in a single incident for their fins. The slaughter occurred in the Malpelo Wildlife Sanctuary, a remote 8,570 square kilometer area of the ocean off Columbia's Pacific coast. The sharks were found at the bottom of the sea, all dead, and all with their fins cut off. They were discovered by a team of shark researchers around the small island of Malpelo, 500 kilometers west of the mainland.

he researchers reportedly witnessed 10 fishing trawlers near Malpelo all with the Costa Rican flag. The research team sent divers down to investigate and found the shark carcasses, and estimated 200 sharks per boat for a total of 2,000 sharks. Shark species found included hammerhead, Galapagos, and silky sharks.

According to Sandra Bessudo, Columbia's top environmental advisor and a leading advocate for marine conserviation, "I received a report, which is really unbelievable, from one of the divers who came from Russia to observe the large concentrations of sharks in Malpelo. They saw a large number of fishing trawlers entering the zone illegally. When the divers dove, they started finding a large number of animals without their fins. They didn't see any alive."

Malpelo does contain a small Columbian naval station, but no naval ships were in the area during the incident. The tiny square mile chunk of rock is located 36 hours away from the mainland by sea. The navy sent out a ship to the area once the news was reported, and seized an Ecuadorian fishing vessel with a 300 kilogram illegal catch that included sharks and other protected species.

EDIT

http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/43436

[postulater]

1. Is it the Old Testament that suggests "An eye for an eye"?

I think this might be a case where that would apply, though I'm not sure what the H. Sapiens equivalent of a fin is.

Oh wait, I think I know, at least in the male of the Sapiens species.

[Nihil]

3. A hand would be a more fitting punishment ...

> Oh wait, I think I know, at least in the male of the Sapiens species.

... as that way, it would directly stop them from repeating their crime.

Mind you, considering that every single shark died, removing the head
of the criminal would work for me too ...

:grr:

[ixion]

2. sad

:(