Around 15,000 to 20,000 fishermen in India depend exclusively on shark fishing. A total ban would deprive us of the only source of livelihood. Another 5 to 10 lakh fishermen dependent on seasonal catch would also have been affected.

The shark is an important part of the marine ecosystem, maintaining the precious balance to ensure the survival of all, like a tiger. It is long-lived and produces very few offsprings. Its extinction could cause havoc to the ecosystem.

Can we actually choose between the survival of man and the survival of animal? The government of India, who first put a blanket ban over fishing of all kinds of sharks, had to rethink on protests from fishermen and restrict the ban to only nine species of sharks and rays; sea horses and sea cucumbers. Why? Isn’t protecting a wildlife species a good thing to do??? Can’t overexploitation of a species lead to extinction? Or does one need to look at all aspects rather than taking one blind view, especially today when man and animal territories overlap, before taking any drastic steps?

Complicated, haina? Tell us what YOU feel through an essay (not more than 400 words), photographs or cartoons. Use real life incidents, if possible. The best entry in each category will win exciting prizes!

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Editor, Gobar Times
Centre for Science and Environment
41, Tughlakabad Inst. Area
New Delhi-110 062
Email: panditji@cseindia.org (write ‘fish contest’ for subject)