Mako "Gaff Kill" Florida - WPLG Channel 10

Please help and voice your concern in reference to the killing of the Mako shark that recently happened off the coast of Florida.  Simply copy/paste the letter below and send it to Robert Schmitt (rschmitt@wplg.com) at WPLG Channel 10:

"I am writing to you about a recent story you did about the fishermen who caught a 748 lb. Mako shark off the Florida coast. It is disheartening to say the least to see the destruction of a threatened species celebrated in the news media. With sharks worldwide being destroyed to the tune of 100,000,000+ animals per year and some species facing 90% reductions in their populations, this type of trophy capture is simply inexcusable.

Sharks such as this Mako do not reproduce quickly nor do they have large litters, specifically because of their status as an apex predator. The natural ecosystem has evolved this way for very specific reasons ... sustainability of population being the most important. The magnificent specimen shown in your video was a fully mature, healthy adult capable of producing offspring. By targeting these larger trophy animals, fishermen like these are destroying the very individuals that have at least a chance of sustaining the species’ population. As more and more larger sharks are caught, no reproducing animals are left to repopulate the ecosystem being targeted.

Please stop your glorification of these fishing activities, and instead educate the public about the worldwide plight of sharks, which is reaching critical levels. Nearly all of the large shark species are now Red-Listed as at least threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). That should be the real story here."