Nicole Ertle
Day 6
It could be see it from the end of the road as we approached, a tourist trap in the form of a megalodon-sized shark jaw. Locals may drive past without a thought, but for jersey students searching for souvenirs, it was a logical stop to make. Welcome to Shell World! Briskly walking through the racks of clothes proudly branding the various Keys, I venture into a room that leaves my heart heavy. A barrel full of dried balloonfish, fully engorged and petrified, wrapped loosely in a plastic casing. On the glass counter in its own glass vile is a small shark, a young dogfish floating vertically and lifeless, preserved in a ghastly looking viscous fluid. An embarrassing amount of sea shells and dehydrated invertebrates fill deep shelves lining the room. Tourists can be overheard checking names off their lists, either ogling over the aesthetics of the shells painted under a gloopy layer of gloss, or frantically grabbing at whatever is near, never truly appreciating what these specimens once were.
As disturbing a picture this is, it is a sad truth. These once thriving organisms are being targeted mercilessly to supply the demand for them. A lot of the species offered are not even native to Florida, but rather taken from countries with no regulations. Once the purchasing stops, the slaughter can too. Seeing the morgue at Shell World reminded me of a conversation with our captain from Captain Slate's Dive Center...
Yesterday on our night dive a few of us had the opportunity to have a casual chat under the stars with Captain Sky. She wears a gold shark around her neck, keeping her favorite species close to her heart. Sky became partner with her father at the dive shop recently and despite it not being her initial plan, (she has a knack for politics) she started helping her father and over time became the bombshell captain we know and love today. What had come to mind in the souvenir shop was Sky sharing how she stopped shopping at Publix because they sell shark fin soup. She opts out of supporting the franchise that chooses to support the act of shark finning. Some may think this drastic, but without the demand the suppliers would have no choice- no income -to ruthlessly hunt these apex predators. Sky's involvement in Shark Angels, an organization and hub for everything shark related, emphasizes her deep passion for shark conservation. It's easy to be moved by her respectful encouragement to us, as marine science students, to help heal our oceans.
So what can we do ourselves? If completely cutting out a grocery store or trinket shop seems too much, then just say no to the specific items mentioned. Get educated and tactfully share your experience without being pushy. Be aware of hidden ingredients that come from sharks like squalene, shark liver oil found in cosmetics. Instead of a shark tooth or sand dollar for mom, opt for a shirt from the local dive shop where the funds will help support incredible adventures. There are organizations and donation boxes at parks to give back; family and friends will be touched by the thoughtfulness of a donation in their name to help an honest cause thrive.
To book your own unforgettable experience at Captain Slate's check out www.captainslate.com
To learn more about Shark Angels and conservation work being done, visit www.sharkangels.com
Love love loved this blog post! But I totally agree! The amount of shell gift shops compared to the actual number of beach treasures that wash up onto these beaches don't add up to me. As for your first picture of the juvenile preserved dog sharks, its very heart breaking. These industries that make money from killing marine life for "decoration" and collectibles currently don't truely understand the affect they are placing on the marine enviornments they have been taken from. I wouldn't be so much against it if these shells were naturally washed upon beaches or if the preservation of animals were for science reasons.
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