The Dorsal Fin

XOOC, a non-profit marine conservation group based in Mexico, produced the video above, which focuses on the bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) of Mexico’s Playa del Carmen.

Last fall, dozens of Playa’s bull sharks were killed by a local fisherman, who was paid 118,000 pesos (roughly $10,000 USD) for the sharks, according the video. The video also goes on to note that living sharks can bring in up to $300,000 USD dollars in tourism revenue per season. However, the fisherman who caught the sharks, argued that it was more profitable for him to catch and sell the sharks, since it was less dangerous and only required 4 hours of work.

Playa del Carmen had become a popular dive site in recent years and was known as one of the hot spots for diving with bull sharks.

(Note: This video showed up on YouTube yesterday, but was originally posted on Vimeo several months ago.)

The Pew Environment Group is reporting that from an economic standpoint, a live shark can potentially be worth far more money than a dead one.

A recent study conducted by the Australian Institute of Marine Science suggests that a single live shark in Palau can bring in up to $1.4 million (USD) in tourism revenue over its lifetime, according to the video above from Pew. In comparison, a reef shark killed and sold for consumption is worth only about $108 (USD).

Palau declared its waters a nationwide shark sanctuary in 2009, which banned all commercial shark fishing. More recently, the Maldives and Honduras have also declared similar shark fishing bans. Additionally, Guam, the Northen Marianas, and the state of Hawaii have passed legislation banning the trade of shark fins.

A bill to ban shark fin trade is moving through Oregon Legislature.

BusinessWeek is reporting that Oregon lawmakers are considering a ban on the trade of shark fins, which are often used in shark fin soup. A bill that would ban the trade of shark fins has already been unanimously passed by a House committee. Now, the bill will head to the floor for a vote.

Similar bans on the trade of shark fin are also under consideration in California and Washington. Hawaii has already recently adopted a shark fin ban.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s exposé on the shark fin industry (and shark fin soup) is now available in its entirety courtesy of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares YouTube channel. Ramsay’s encounters with members of the shark fin trade in Costa Rica were widely reported a few weeks ago. Reports including accounts of Ramsay being doused with gasoline, threatened at gunpoint, and coerced to leave the country provided plenty of extra publicity for Ramsay’s show.

Part 1 of Ramsay’s “The Big Fish Fight” can be seen above. For the rest of the program, follow the links below.

Gordon Ramsay Shark Bait – The Big Fish Fight Part 2
Gordon Ramsay Shark Bait – The Big Fish Fight Part 3
Gordon Ramsay Shark Bait – The Big Fish Fight Part 4

YouTube user matthadlingtonmusic recently posted the above video which is described as a “draft” of the main theme music to a documentary titled “Shiver.” Based on the video description, “Shiver” is an upcoming documentary that focuses on the shark fin trade in Mozambique.