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Mako Sharks

     In 2001, a friend and I took a long road trip to one of my favorite states, California.  I had just graduated, bought a new car and couldn’t think of a better way to start the summer; in the California sun.  His family friend lived in Marina Del Rey and we were told that he had planned a special boat trip for us the first day we were there.  Unfortunately, it took about 10 minutes on the water for me to realize I apparently suffered from sea sickness.  Talk about a beautiful way to start a trip.

         

     After emerging from the cabin about an hour later, I was filled in on the trip details.  This wasn’t just a regular fishing trip; we were also out on the water to capture a Mako Shark.  Turns out, this was the time of year for the “Mako for Dollars Tournament”.  Lucky me!  Just when I thought the trip couldn’t get anymore terrifying, I found out that the main tools for this kind of capture were gaffs and a pistol; I was given the pistol.  A gaff is a long pole with a large hook attached to the end.  The gaff is inserted into the shark's gills, while the shark is still in the water, then pulled up through the top of the head.  A pistol is used as a last resort in case gaffing didn't do the trick.

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    The Mako shark has a long, plump body and their average body is length is approximately 13 feet.  They are one of the largest and fastest shark species in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.  Makos are considered extremely dangerous and fishermen are advised to use caution because these fish will not hesitate to attack a person or a boat (California Fish and Wildlife).  Author Brian Handwerk states in a NatGeo article that "Each year there are about 50 to 70 confirmed shark attacks and 5 to 15 shark-attack fatalities around the world".

     Makos have been linked to numerous fatal and nonfatal attacks on humans.  With their aggressive behavior, immense speed and strength, they are considered a tremendous trophy for fishermen.  An impending attack is signaled by the Mako swimming in a figure eight pattern, while swimming, mouth open, towards their prey. The demand for the Makos flesh and their fins has decreased their population and with the added number of those getting caught in the nets of industrial fishermen, there is fear of the Mako becoming endangered (Marinebio).  There are only a few government regulations when it comes to Mako fishing and these only come into place when they feel the Makos are being over-fished.  Brian Handwerk with NatGeo also stated in his article that "Between 20 and 100 million sharks die each year due to fishing activity, according to data from the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File".  Sounds like over-fishing to me!

     Since Makos are considered a trophy game fish, the tournaments offering cash prizes for the largest Mako captured can have a extremely large turn out.  The thrill of the hunt and potential cash in their pockets brings participants from all around.  But this isn't ordinary fishing; it is brutal and unethical.  How can one take pleasure in gaffing a shark?  This method is used with every fisherman who is experienced in shark fishing, yet it isn't always effective.  When gaffing doesn't kill the shark, the use of the pistol comes in because pulling a live shark on your boat is obviously far too dangerous.

     Many people will argue that this is a needed event because of how dangerous these fish are.  I can agree with their reasoning a bit, since sharks have been lead to violent human deaths, but the real question for me is why are these fisherman so brutal when it comes to finishing the job?  With this brutality, how are they any better then the shark?  The ocean is gigantic and we probably haven't even made a dent in our oceanic discoveries.  How would we handle new animal species that are much larger and more threatening then the Makos?

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