OCEANA TV shows powerful images of shark finning

The programme “On the alert” dedicates its first episode to the critical situation of sharks, now a target of commercial fishing.

CONTACT/CONTACTO:
Marta Madina (mmadina@oceana.org)

Oceana

2009-02-12

Madrid -- The premiere of “Oceana News” offers the latest Oceana achievements in marine investigation.

As of today, Oceana TV will be broadcasting the program “On the Alert” which in its first installment will be dedicated to showing the critical conservation situation affecting many shark species. The program shows real shark finning footage, a practice consisting in cutting off shark fins and throwing the body back to sea when the animal, in many cases, is still alive. This is done to obtain the raw material necessary to make shark fin soup, highly consumed in Asian countries.

This practice is forbidden in the European Union which obliges keeping the animal’s body on board, resulting in an increase in shark meat sales and its commercialization under other names. Sharks are no longer accidental catches and have become a fishing target, leading to other species beneath them in the food chain to reproduce without control when too many sharks are removed. The show includes an analysis by Rebecca Greenberg, marine scientist specialising in sharks, who asserts: “Research on the Hong Kong fin market reveals that each year up to 73 million sharks die to supply this market”.

Today Oceana TV also begins broadcasting “Oceana News”, presenting the organization’s current affairs. The first news program shows footage of the valuable marine ecosystems identified in the Cabrera area (Balearic Islands, Spain). It also shows a research project for bluefin tuna larvae in the Mediterranean sea, and the book 12,000 miles defending the sea, on the transoceanic expedition undertaken by the organisation’s catamaran, the Oceana Ranger.

Xavier Pastor, Oceana Europe’s Executive Director points out: “We want Oceana TV to be an alive and frequently up-dated channel so that viewers receive the latest information on the oceans’ state of conservation and the situation of species inhabiting them. To do so, we combine the latest footage and rigorous information and show what Ocean is doing to stop the destruction of our seas”.

In addition to both program premieres, the line-up includes three shows on which Oceana TV was presented last January: “Oceana TV Special" (channel presentation), “Oceana in Action” (dedicated to the bluefin tuna) and “Oceana Documentary” (on the investigation and protection of marine habitats). Links appear at the top of the screen providing further information for each of the topics.

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