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COROMANDEL LIFE
SUMMER 2014
Shark finning is the process where sharks
are captured by tuna surface long lines. The
fins of the shark are sliced off, and the rest of
the shark is thrown back into the sea. Sadly,
New Zealand has been one of the largest
exporters of shark fins to the Asian markets.
Approximately 150,000 blue sharks are killed
and finned in New Zealand waters every year.
The wasteful practice of shark finning “is
the equivalent of going into a paddock full
of cows with a machete, cutting off a cow’s
leg and then letting it die slowly,” states
Mike Bhana, Tairua local and member of the
New Zealand Shark Alliance; a collective
of NGOs supporting the banning of shark
finning. Mike’s experience in film making
for the past twenty years (including clients
National Geographic and the Discovery
Channel) has been fundamental in getting
their message across to the masses. After
noticing a substantial decline of sharks in the
waters while filming, Mike decided to take
action on the barbaric motives and actions of
commercial fishing.
NEW ZEALAND’S
PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION
Nearly 100 countries have put a stop to shark
finning in their waters. However, a ban in one
area just sends fishermen to exploit another.
Thankfully, as of Nov 2013, the National
Government announced it would implement
steps to completely ban finning by Oct 2016.
Why the delay? The law needs to go through
the submission process which can be a
lengthy procedure and with big players in
the fishing industry opposing the ban, it
looks like a battle ahead. However, Mike
has hope. “Everyone knows what a barbaric
and wasteful practise this is. Most fishermen
understand the need to protect their livelihood
as well as the ‘Clean Green’ and sustainable
fishing reputation New Zealand has.”
Big commercial fishing player Sealord is
the only major commercial fishing company
to stop shark finning, but as Mike further
explains, “There will always be a few who are
driven by the short term gain associated with
the high price for fins, but in end, most NZ
fishermen I know are smarter than that.”
Claire Fitzjames has recently graduated with a Bachelor
(Hons) in Sociology. This has led to an interest in the
environmental and societal domains along with a knack
for local history. When she’s not trawling through books
and ‘Paper’s Past’ (NZ’s newspaper archive website) you
will find her making candles or at the beach.
Riley Elliott hand feeds a blue shark between Castle Rock and the Alderman Islands.
Below, this ‘blue’ eyes his photographer Mike Bhana, while a small kingfish stays close
but safe beneath the blue’s fin.
• There are 112 species of shark in NZ waters
(over 400 world wide) and more species are
being discovered every year. A sawshark, with
long sawlike snout, was recently discovered
off the Philippines.
• Sharks and rays are members of a group
known as cartillanginous fish. This means their
skeletons are softer and more flexible than
normal, and don’t last long after death. The
jaws of a shark usually survive longer because
they are made of tougher bone. Only the teeth
of sharks remain and fossilize, meaning almost
all records of extinct sharks come only from
the discovery of fossilized teeth.
• Sharks grow slowly to adulthood, some taking
more than a decade to reach maturity.
• A female shark’s skin is roughly ten times
tougher than male’s skin to protect her against
his teeth during mating.
• Sharks have up to 8 rows of teeth which are
replaced as they wear out. A shark can lose up
to 30,000 teeth during its lifetime.
• The mako is the fastest shark; it has been
known to reach speeds of 70kph. It can also
leap 6m above the surface of the water.
• A newborn shark is able to swim as soon as it
is born and is immediately left to fend for itself
by the mother.
• Sharks are susceptible to the moon’s control
of ocean tides. Moon phases affect sharks’
eating habits and draw them closer to shore.
• Ladies, glad you’re not a pregnant shark? The
gestation period for a pregnant female shark
can range from five months to two years.
• Almost 50 shark species have light-emitting
organs called photospheres. Sharks use their
light for camouflage and to attract mates.
• Some sharks start working before they’re even
born, chewing their way out of their egg.
All Stuff
Sharky
“Sharks are beautiful animals, and if you’re lucky enough to see lots
of them, that means that you’re in a healthy ocean. You should be afraid if you are
in the ocean and don’t see sharks.” – Sylvia Earle
SHARKSKIN
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021 632 024
How does shark skin prevent algae and other
contaminants (called ‘foul’) attaching to it?
Dr. Anthony Brennan studied shark scales
(dermal denticles), and discovered the shape
and pattern, shown enlarged right, prevents
microbes finding a stable surface on which
to take hold, and water is channeled over the
surface faster, giving less drag.
Brennan developed a similar surface texture suitable for anti-bacterial and medical
areas. Bacteria are unable to communicate to multiply successfully, creating a
quarantine effect. See sharklet.com.
