South Africa: Outcry At Plan To Slaughter Sharks

Top marine scientists have lashed out at a planned shark-fishing competition off Durban next weekend with one describing it as a return to the "dark days of revenge killing" of the creatures. About 35 anglers will compete to kill sharks which they claim in a newsletter are so plentiful they "can be seen under the boats waiting to grab fish as they are brought to the surface". Malcolm Smile, a marine biologist at the Bayworld Aquarium in Port Elizabeth, said the slaughter was totally unjustifiable and that the anglers were on a mission to hunt and kill sharks - sharks that others enjoyed seeing and which contributed to ecotourism on the South African coast. Lesley Rochat, of the Afri-Oceans Conservation Alliance, said the competition "in the guise of a very questionable charity event", would target sharks above 20kg and the fins would be "donated" through a local Asian buyer...