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The Shark
Friendly Restaurant Initiative
An Initiative of
the Predators in Peril Project
SHARKS ARE IN TROUBLE
Are you ready to help?
Dear Restaurant Owner,
Many shark populations around the world are in
serious trouble. Millions die every year accidentally because they are
caught in trawls and on fishing lines that are targeting other fish
species (bi-catch). Many more are intentionally caught for their meat
and fins, which is made into shark steaks, shark fin soup and other
dishes.
Shark finning is the biggest problem facing
sharks. The sharks are caught on long-lines that can capture hundreds of
sharks at a time. While still alive, their fins are hacked off (to be
used in shark fin soup) and the mutilated sharks are thrown back into
the sea to die. They sink to the bottom and slowly suffocate because
they are unable to swim.
Even small boats can kill thousands of sharks on
every trip because shark finners only keep the fins. This is a very
cruel and wasteful method of fishing.
Sharks have a critical role in our oceans. They
maintain an important balance by keeping other marine life populations
in check. They also remove sick animals that would otherwise weaken the
gene pool.
Unfortunately, sharks reproduce very slowly. They
have very few young compared to other fish species and some sharks take
20 years to reach sexual maturity. Because of this, they cannot keep up
with the current level of fishing pressure. Shark fishing (especially
shark finning) has to stop.
Also, did you know that shark meat is very
dangerous for humans to consume? Because sharks live so long, they
slowly collect a lot of mercury, which is stored in their flesh.
Restaurants that serve shark are slowly poisoning their customers.
Please consider removing sharks from your menu.
Your choice will directly benefit the health of your customers and you
will be helping future generations by contributing to a healthy planet.
Once your restaurant has become shark friendly, we
will provide you with a Shark Friendly Restaurant decal that will inform
a growing number of conscientious consumers that your establishment has
become part of the solution.
Your restaurant will also be listed in our online
database and we will do our best to generate positive publicity about
shark friendly restaurants in local food and entertainment magazines.
Thank you for taking the time to read this shark
friendly fact sheet.
DOWNLOAD THIS SHARK FRIENDLY FACT SHEET
ARE YOU ALREADY SHARK FRIENDLY? TELL US ABOUT
YOUR RESTUARANT!
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