Sponsor pulls out of cruel and senseless shark tournament
March 22nd, 2007 by admin
Last week, the board of the Destin History and Fishing Museum voted to end its sponsorship of the Destin Deep Water Shark Tournament. The 2006 event was Destin’s first shark tournament since 1995, when it was halted due to concerns about the declining shark population (shark populations have not recovered). During the four-day event, eleven dead sharks were brought to Destin’s docks. One 11-foot tiger shark was gruesomely hung-up on display for a gathered crowd. Another 300 sharks were hooked and released.
Sharks are essential to the ocean ecosystem, and shark tournaments contribute to the continuing decline in shark populations.
Please thank the Destin History & Fishing Museum for their decision not to host a shark tournament in 2007.
Contact:
Jean Melvin, Museum Director
E-mail: jean@destinhistoryandfishingmuseum.org