January 4, 2009
Dear Diary,
You may not know but my job as a marine biologist off the Australia coast has
been picking up steam! I was recently asked by my boss to study a species that was
new to him, called the Dusky shark. I had never heard of this species either because
after looking up research on this shark, there was very little to be found! What we
did find shocked us; the Dusky shark was prone to shark finning in the ocean1.
Hearing that shark finning, which is the process of cutting shark fins off is still
present makes me very irritated because it depletes species of sharks that we have
not found sufficient research on. I honestly hope that one day Congress sees shark
depletion as a problem in the ocean not just for the ocean but for humans as well.
They produce oxygen that humans need to breathe! I really hope that Congress will
take action to this problem! Until next time..
Sydney
January 5, 2009
You will not believe what just happened yesterday! Congress FINALLY
decided to pass the Shark Conservation Act2, which makes me so happy. This law
has been in talks for many, many years, and they finally decided to pass it yesterday!
Basically, it’s a law that prevents sharks from being killed for their fins3. For my job
as a marine biologist in Australia, having this law helps protect the species that I
study; sharks. Without this law, my job could potentially be ruined because there
would be no sharks for me to study anymore! The thought of there being no sharks
in the ocean anymore for me to do my job on something that I love is heartbreaking!
Their fins are cut off and then the sharks are thrown back into the water to die! I
don’t understand why someone would voluntarily want to harm a shark. They are
harmless and help protect the ocean. Oh well, I am just very happy that they decided
to pass this law, considering it’s been in the works for years. Now, if we can just get
all of the sharks that are on the endangered species OFF the list, I would be ecstatic!
1
Knickle, Craig. "Dusky Shark." Florida Museum of Natural History. N.p.. Web. 6 Nov 2012.
<http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/descript/duskyshark/duskyshark.html>.
2 Eilperin, Juliet. "Shark Conservation bill headed to Obama." Washington Post. Washington
Post, 21 2012. Web. 10 Nov 2012.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2010/12/21/AR20101221041
90.html>.
3 Eilperin, Juliet. "Shark Conservation bill headed to Obama." Washington Post. Washington
Post, 21 2012. Web. 10 Nov 2012.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2010/12/21/AR20101
22104190.html>.
Sharks are my pride and joy and I want to make sure that I can improve their lives.
Maybe I will be able to come up with new technology that I can use to study sharks?
Tomorrow my friends and I are going to head to the ocean to cage dive with the
sharks! I am so excited to see the sharks up close and personal! I will make sure to
write back tomorrow with details of our dive. Hopefully I don’t get too nervous so
that I can take some pictures!
Sydney