Help save our sharks
People are standing together to protect Protea Banks.
SOME four months after Beulah Mauz from Shelly Beach photographed decapitated shark heads shockingly displayed at the cleaning station at Shelly Beach there have been some positive spin-offs.
A total of 2 200 people have so far signed the RSA Save Our Sharks campaign petition to help save the tiger and Zambezi sharks of Protea Banks as well as those in the rest of South Africa, before it’s too late. The petition aims to stop the inhumane and brutal trophy hunting of these sharks. The ultimate goal is to collect 5 000 signatures so that Beulah can write a letter to government with the petition as the supporting evidence.
Beulah, who has recently joined the international group called Shark Angels, said there had been a great improvement in the relationship between the diving and fishing community, and small steps had been made in the flight to help save tiger and Zambezi sharks. Shark Angels is an international network of people working to bring about change. Globally connected, they raise awareness of critical issues, attempt to change perspectives, and empower and equip advocates to act locally to save sharks. They do this by trying to educate people of all ages about the ocean.
“The atmosphere at Shelly Beach has definitely improved, with more people concerned about protecting sharks,” said Beulah.
Beulah is passionate about all wildlife, not just sharks, and believes everyone from divers and fishermen to
schoolchildren need to be educated about our wonderful ocean.
Beulah stressed they have nothing against fishermen, and don’t want to see them banned from fishing at Protea Banks, as that would have a ripple effect on the whole community.
She said sharks are vital for the ocean’s ecosystem, and without sharks, the ecosystem would be thrown out of balance and there would be no fish to catch.
“We are encouraging sustainable fishing and maintaining a healthy respect for the ocean,” she said. “People should not catch what they don’t eat,” she added.
Beulah said Shelly Beach would host its very own ‘paddle out for World Oceans’ Day’ next year so that all ocean lovers from the South Coast could join the cause.
Everyone who would like to support the RSA SOS campaign is invited to sign the petition at Ramsgate Stationers at the Southcoast Mall or on the facebook site ‘Protect Tiger and Zambezi sharks of Protea Banks, KZN, South Africa’. The intention of the online petition is to ensure vulnerable shark species have better protection in order to ensure their survival.
