Regardless of how people feel about sharks, or underwater feeding
operations that lure sharks in for the benefit of scuba-diving
tourists, they're bound to appreciate the spectacular footage in the
accompanying video, produced by Joe Romeiro.
It features renowned dive master Cristina Zenato at the center of a feeding session at Grand Bahama Island, and builds to a climax moment when Zenato takes a large shark into her lap and rubs its snout until it becomes so mesmerized that she's able to stand the predator by its snout on the palm of her hand (beginning at the 2:00 mark).
"All those sharks could be killed," Romeiro complained.
Shark finning is carried out globally to satisfy demand, mostly in China, for shark-fin soup. Finning operations kill up to 100 million sharks per year, by some estimates, and imperil several shark species.
The waters around the Bahamas contain a robust population of Caribbean reef sharks, which have not yet been targeted. While expanded fishing operations might increase local employment they'd provide only a short-term economic boost, opponents of finning say, lasting only until the sharks were fished out.
Larry Cartwright, the Bahamas' minister of agriculture and marine resources, agreed that sharks ought to be protected but acknowledged that there is no official government position against finning, and that there are no legislative safeguards in place.
"I wouldn't say shark finning is not going to happen here because what's happening elsewhere I am sure will come this way eventually," Cartwright told the Tribune. "And when the time comes we will look into legislation."
Meanwhile, the Bahamas National Trust, in partnership with the Pew Environmental Group, has launched a campaign to create legislation that would ban finning, and nearly a dozen environmental groups, including the Nature Conservancy, have begun lobbying on behalf of the sharks.
It features renowned dive master Cristina Zenato at the center of a feeding session at Grand Bahama Island, and builds to a climax moment when Zenato takes a large shark into her lap and rubs its snout until it becomes so mesmerized that she's able to stand the predator by its snout on the palm of her hand (beginning at the 2:00 mark).
The video, posted Friday on YouTube, portrays Caribbean reef sharks as beautiful, graceful creatures that comprise a valued centerpiece attraction of island eco-tourism operations. Romeiro produced the video after learning these same sharks might soon fall victim to large-scale slaughter.
The Bahama Tribune reported recently that there are no laws to protect sharks from finning operations, and that at least one seafood company is considering expanding its cucumber export business on Andros Island to include the export of shark fins to Hong Kong."All those sharks could be killed," Romeiro complained.
Shark finning is carried out globally to satisfy demand, mostly in China, for shark-fin soup. Finning operations kill up to 100 million sharks per year, by some estimates, and imperil several shark species.
The waters around the Bahamas contain a robust population of Caribbean reef sharks, which have not yet been targeted. While expanded fishing operations might increase local employment they'd provide only a short-term economic boost, opponents of finning say, lasting only until the sharks were fished out.
Larry Cartwright, the Bahamas' minister of agriculture and marine resources, agreed that sharks ought to be protected but acknowledged that there is no official government position against finning, and that there are no legislative safeguards in place.
"I wouldn't say shark finning is not going to happen here because what's happening elsewhere I am sure will come this way eventually," Cartwright told the Tribune. "And when the time comes we will look into legislation."
Meanwhile, the Bahamas National Trust, in partnership with the Pew Environmental Group, has launched a campaign to create legislation that would ban finning, and nearly a dozen environmental groups, including the Nature Conservancy, have begun lobbying on behalf of the sharks.
With his video, entitled "Nina Salerosa," Romeiro has taken an artistic approach to the campaign. Since Friday it has been viewed by more than 15,000 people.
-- Pete Thomas
The root problem is that human population growth is out of control and will lead to unsustainable results.
Posted by: Russ | Apr 06, 2012 at 08:36 AM
Humans are the greatest danger and threat to other species, to ourselves and to the planet. Thank for for sharing this amazing experience.
Posted by: Danny DeMichele Entrepreneur | Mar 01, 2011 at 03:09 AM
This is by far the MOST beautiful video I have ever seen about sharks. PETROS PETRIDIS from beautiful GREECE
Posted by: PETROS PETRIDIS | Feb 03, 2011 at 10:41 AM
This is by far the most beautiful video I have ever seen about sharks.
Posted by: Joe | Dec 06, 2010 at 09:48 PM
Nice stuff...I just added Pete to Scribnia. Check this: http://www.scribnia.com/writers/pete-thomas
Posted by: Marc Duquette | Nov 17, 2010 at 09:42 AM
This is awesome. This is like the Charge of the 600 only it's sharks. However this is no suicidal mission but the coexistence of animal & man.
Posted by: George | Oct 22, 2010 at 10:24 AM
My God....this is so beautiful. This is how our interactions with the creatures of this planet should be. We can co exist in peace and harmony and respect. Humans are the greatest danger and threat to other species, to ourselves and to the planet. Thank for for sharing this amazing experience.
Posted by: Andrea Ring | Oct 20, 2010 at 12:22 AM
good work; animals are no tools or creatures living for the use & convenience of man
Posted by: JAN HEDBERG | Sep 24, 2010 at 11:01 PM
This is an amazing video featuring an amazing person handling these magnificent animals. I live half way across the world, in Pakistan yet, I am so impressed by Cristina's work and by the environment that you have in Bahamas. Its a true treasure, and if it can impress people half way across the world, just think about how much potential it has in terms of business if this treasure is preserved and is well cared for ... it would be sad if all this gets destroyed because of a bowl of soup. Just my genuine thoughts.
Posted by: Mudassir Khan | Sep 13, 2010 at 04:11 PM