[sand flea]

I'm sure everyone's heard their share of stories about our friends at PETA, but I just for the life of me can't understand them and the way they exploit other people's tragedy. Read this story from The Sun Herald
_________
An animal rights group plans to erect a billboard that capitalizes on the recent shark attack on 8-year-old Jessie Arbogast of Ocean Springs.

The Web site for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says a billboard will be erected in Pensacola this week that asks, "Would you give your right arm to know why sharks attack? Could it be revenge?"

Dan Shannon of Norfolk, Va., PETA's fishing campaign coordinator, admits the group's intent is to "capitalize on a news story, which is current right now, and that is Jessie Arbogast. Obviously our prayers are with him and his family, and we hope he's doing well."

But, Shannon said, the group is willing to risk offending people to further its cause of protecting animals. PETA's mission is to convert the world to vegetarianism, according to its literature.

"Our philosophy is that we'd rather go too far than not far enough," Shannon said. "Sometimes, when it deals with animal cruelty, we have to do some outlandish things, and we're doing this with everyone in mind."

The billboard was approved to go up in Pensacola, Shannon said, but the billboard company, Prime Outdoor, backed out of the contract after considering the possibility of people being offended. PETA is looking for another billboard company willing to put up the sign.

A shark bit off Jessie's right arm, which has been reattached, at a beach near Pensacola. Because of severe blood loss, he has been in a light coma and the extent of his recovery is uncertain.

Claire Arbogast, Jessie's mother, said Wednesday that she has heard of PETA, but was not aware of the billboard plan.

"I really don't want to know," she said from her home in Ocean Springs, where Jessie remains in a light coma. "I think it's best if I just don't pay any attention to all that. I have enough to do just taking care of what I have to take care of here."

 

[Salty]

What are they up down there on shark attacks? Last number I think I heard was like 23?


Peta is pure evil just like Lifetime

They both need to go...

 

[jcreamer]

Who the H_____ is this guy Shannon?
Let something happen to him or one of his loved ones and listen to what he has to say.
I cammot understand why anyone would want to cash in on something like this.
I just hope the kid recovers..

 

[sand flea]

You know, I'm not trying to be creepy or sensationalistic and I understand statistical anomalies, but it's really unusual that two people have died in the last few days in a 50-mile span from shark attacks.

I'd really like to talk to someone who witnessed either of these incidents. Please drop me a line if you saw them or know any of the circumstances surrounding them. Thanks.

 

[sharkbite]

Could these recent attacks also be due to the reduction of the bunker population? Bunker is a very large food source for many of the predatory fish in the ocean. As the schools of bunker become smaller there is less food for the fish such as sharks. This could possibly bee forcing these fish to come into shallower water in search of more food.

Just my two cents...

I wonder if there has been any odd catches of offshore fish closer to shore... such as tuna or bigger sharks which would not normal be in close.

As for PETA, I belive they will bring their own demise. For a group that is saying to treat fish and other animals with respect sure do alot of heartless things in my opinion.

Tight Lines and Good luck to all of those who are fishing this week

Tim

 

[sand flea]

Good point sharkbite. I'm on the same page.

I did some thinking and scanning back over old posts and discovered something that may be coincidence, or may point to a bigger trend. There were lots of giant bluefins last winter in 15 feet of water off Virginia Beach. And these weren't footballs either--they were 400-800 pound fish, apex predators that for some reason were coming inshore to feed.

 

[erikharwell]

I do think that shark attacks are due 2 the depletion of their natural food like menhaden ond other prey fish and without this type of food they turn 2 alternative sources of food including humans but it is kinda odd that florida can have 20+ shark attacks in one year and none of those are fatal and in virginia we have the first one in thirty years and it is fatal

ps. might be a good time 2 go shark fishing anyone been catchin any recently

 

[repair5343]

Last week my son and I went fishing.
The bait in the water was unbeliveable.
The water was black with them, and only about 50 to 100 feet from the beach.
Then a small feeding frenzy started with some Baracuda, and Jacks (no Sharks this time), but there people in the water.
No one got hurt.

 

[sharkbite]

another thing that has been running through my head is how the bunker reduction boats have effected their migratory patterns each year. Fish evolve like anything else. Could they be changing their migratory patterns which would normally go out into the deeper water to shallow water closer to beaches?