Protea Banks - Another dead Zambezi

[Grant Smith]

Please lend us your support again! A sexually mature female Zambezi shark was killed yesterday on Protea Banks in the name of sport. It takes 20 years for a Zambezi to reach breeding maturity (twice as long as the Great White) Please have a look at our website for more information.

Thanking you in advance

Grant

www.africanodyssea.co.za/JAWG.htm

[Colin Knight]

Thanks for drawing this to my attention. I urge everyone to visit Grant's site and view the video. The conversation at the end says it all:
Trevor Krull from JAWG " why do you kill them?"
Fisherman " for the trophy"

I have sent an email to JAWG so that they can use it in support of the campaign (copy below). If you are interested in shark conservation, please send your own email.

thanks
Colin

"I lend my support to The Joint Awareness Group for Shark Conservation. I visited South Africa three years ago specifically to dive the Protea Banks for three days and then cage "dive" for two days at Dyer Island off Gansbaai. My fellow divers and I were a group of six and we enjoyed the experience immensely. During our trip we spent a lot of money in the South Africa economy.

When I heard of the slaughter of the Zambezi sharks I was appalled. South Africa needs to conserve its rich wildlife resources not kill them off! I had planned to return one day and repeat the wonderful experience I had diving with these sharks. As divers tell others of the unique diving experience at Protea Banks, the tourist economy will grow. But only if you act now to preserve your sharks.

I hope South Africa will act soon to preserve this unique asset so that I can return in the future and repeat this wonderful diving experience.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention via the BSAC Forum."