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So are you saying that the target catch is still sharks?

Amanda, why don't you follow the advice you gave elbert on page 1 and ask them yourself. Seems obvious however. And on something as disgusting as this, if you're not against it, then you're for it by default.

And the comment that fishermen/women don't want to catch them is beside the point and disingenuous. If you know this is going on and is just being re-named to escape scrutiny, inform people.

I'm an avid fisherman by the way. Release everything I catch. These people intend to catch sharks just to kill sharks. Sharks aren't hard to catch. It should be forbidden by law. I can't believe it's allowed.

If this really is about catching sharks then I'm afraid the backlash in the world diving press will be severe. Many divers and some wholesalers won't go to a resort or even country that encourages shark fishing. This is an unbelievable own goal, at a time when we need all the help we can get to tempt divers to come here.

I called them and was informed that is a big game tourney, not targeted at sharks. He also said the max is 1 shark per boat. So a marlin, (are they good eatin'?) or a barracuda anything, including a shark is a valid entry. I had a few other questions but the young man on the phone seemed very flustered and in a hurry. He was polite but obviously had received a ration of dissent from the public.

Sad News ,San Pedro is going to put on the blacklist with these;
from the New York Underwater Photographic Society
Below is a list of the major shark tournaments and contacts at their local chambers of commerce. Please do your part and contact them. Let them know that you will broadcast the negative practice that their town endorses and glorifies - that you will do your part to curb tourism dollars from entering their jurisdiction. Let's help educate them about the plight of sharks and the need for the visible support of their protection. Point out their ethical responsibility to become part of the solution and let them know that otherwise they are part of the problem.

Ocean City Shark Tournament
P.O. BOX 3038
Ocean City, Maryland 21843-3038
Mark Sampson 410-213-2442

Ocean City, Maryland Chamber of Commerce
12320 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, Maryland 21842
410-213-0552
info@oceancity.org

Downeast Maine Shark Tournament
P.O. Box 1345
Biddeford, ME. 04005
maineshark2004@yahoo.com

Biddeford Chamber of Commerce
110 Main Street
Suite 1202
Saco, Maine 04072
info@biddefordsacochamber.org

Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament
Steven James
President, BBG Fishing Club
57 Calypso lane.
Marshfield, MA 02050
email:bostonbiggame@hotmail.com
tel:781-834-2899

Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 1698
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
(508) 693-0085
info@mvy.com

Cape May Shark Tournament
Chuck & Mary Hinchcliffe
Off the Hook B&T @ Hinch Marina
609-884-0444

Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May
P.O. BOX 556, CAPE MAY, NJ 08204
PHONE: (609) 884-5508
FAX (609) 884-2054

South Jersey Shark Tournament
South Jersey Marina
1231 U.S. Highway 109
P.O. Box 641
Cape May, NJ 08204
Voice: (609) 884-2400
Fax: (609) 884-0039
sjadmin@sjmarina.com

Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May
P.O. BOX 556, CAPE MAY, NJ 08204
PHONE: (609) 884-5508
FAX (609) 884-2054

Montauk Shark Tournament
Star Island Yacht Club
PO Box 2180
Montauk Point, NY 11954
(631) 668-5052
(631) 668-5503 Fax
Reservations@starislandyc.com

The Montauk Chamber of Commerce:
742 Montauk Hwy
Montauk, NY
11954-5338
Phone: (631) 668-2428
Fax: (631) 668-9363

Casco Bay Maine Shark Tournament
dave@keenanauction.com

Casco Town Office
635 Meadow Rd.
Casco, ME 04015
PO Box 60
Tel: (207) 627-4515
Fax: (207) 627-4180
Conservation Committee
Georgette Burgess 207-627-4585
Nadia Hermos (Sec'y) 207-627-4241 hermos@aol.com
Beverly White 207-627-4179 bwhite03@maine.me.us

Freeport Shark Tournament
Freeport Hudson Anglers Inc.
P.O. Box 411
Freeport, N.Y. 11520
(516) 378-5181

Freeport Chamber of Commerce
300 Woodcledft Avenue
Freeport, NY 11520
Phone: (516) 223-8840
Fax: (516) 223-1211
freeportchamber@juno.com

Nantucket Shark Tournament
Nantucket Angler's Club
1 New Whale Lane
Nantucket, MA 02554
508-228-2299
nantucket.angler2@verizon.net

Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce
Zero Main Street - 2nd Floor
Nantucket, MA 02554
Tel: 508-228-1700
Fax: 508-325-4925
info@nantucketchamber.org

Sarasota Shark Tournament

Sarasota Chamber of Commerce
1945 Fruitville Road
Sarasota, FL 34236
(941) 955-2508
(941) 366-5621

St. George Island Shark Tournament, Florida

Franklin County Board of County Commissioners
Commissioner Noah Lockley, Jr.: noah@franklincountyflorida.com
Commissioner Joseph Parrish: smokey@franklincountyflorida.com
Commissioner G. Russell Crofton: russell@franklincountyflorida.com
Commissioner Cheryl Sanders: cheryl@franklincountyflorida.com
Commissioner Bevin Putnal: bevin@franklincountyflorida.com

Outcast Shark Tournament, Pensacola Florida

Pensacola Chamber of Commerce
117 West Garden Street
Pensacola, FL 32502
850.438.4081
Fax: 850.438.6369

Word is already out about what was initially announced, and a major damage limitation exercise is needed if in fact it was changed. But given the advance publicity I'm afraid that if even a single shark is caught that will be very damaging.

This was an extraordinarily inept thing to do. Especially since from the very short notice period given when there are few tourists here it is obviously intended for the benefit of the local population of boat owners and "marine people". We are telling the world that given our preference we go out and catch sharks. Yes, we WILL get added to the Elbert's list.

The sky is falling!!! The sky is falling!!!

Jesse - do you know how much visiting diver numbers have dropped? Go and ask some of the dive operators. We need an initiative such as this like a hole in the head.

By "initiative" are you referring to the US-only list of shark tournaments?
And didn't the local shark tournament get canceled/changed to an open type tournament? So what do you want done now? No fishing tournaments at all?

It has been suggested that only the name of the local tournament has been changed, not the substance. I hope you're right that in fact they won't now be catching sharks.