“Basking Shark Is Disappearing; Eradication of Canada’s

Ben Fehri, Faical
EAP2

“Basking Shark Is Disappearing; Eradication of Canada’s
Biggest Fish Started Decades Ago To Save the Fishing Industry”


In Bueckert’s (2007) article, “Basking Shark Is Disappearing; Eradication of Canada’s Biggest Fish Started Decades Ago to Save the Fishing Industry,” he states that the basking shark, which is the largest fish found in Canadian waters, is endangered due to an intentional ‘eradication program’ initiated by the government. The large fish used to be seen quite often but now there have only been six sightings of them. The author then states that a committee that was directed by the Canadian government is in the process of presenting this species to the Environment Minister to officially name it endangered and thereby get help to save this fish. The disappearance of this species would mean that there would be an imbalance in the ecosystem. According to the committee, there are also certain ‘insect-eating birds’ that are beginning to disappear as well. This may be because of chemical usage and loss of their homes. Protecting endangered species takes time and is not going to be something that happens overnight. Finally, the author states that decisions to classify species as endangered must currently go through ministerial approval, though scientists are lobbying against that process so that the action to save these animals can be undertaken much quick. In conclusion, the author states that there are certain species that are disappearing and that those need to be saved as quickly as possible.

This article is very interesting because of the fact that there are indeed many species that are endangered throughout the world. I believe that there are many ways in which the saving of a species is important and critical. Many uneducated people believe that saving a species entails just saving it for the purpose of beauty. While it is true in my opinion that each species has its own appreciation with regard to its beauty, there are far more important reasons to be protecting these animals. These animals, for example, need to be protected because of the fact that if they disappear, then the ecosystem gets imbalanced. Mosquitoes that are normally eaten by endangered birds, for example, are now a problem because their main predator is becoming extinct. This is just one of many examples of how the ecosystem becomes imbalanced.

With regard to the basking shark specifically, the plan that was initiated by the government to eradicate them is not smart at all. Eradication of an entire species or even a percentage of that species for that matter is not proportionate to the balance in the ecosystem. The very environmental ministry that was part of the approval process of this plan needed to do their research first before they went head first into this eradication plan. If they did their research, and properly identified the problems and consequences of eradicating certain species, they would have realized that it would not be a good move to do so as this would upset the balance in the ecosystem.

I agree that now that the problem has occurred, something needs to be done about it. I also agree and am for the lobbyists that are trying to get the law changed to quicken the official declaration of the endangered species process. I disagree with the way things are currently being handled. The Environmental Minister should be able to authorize groups of scientist organizations with the power to declare a species endangered, thereby quickening the process altogether.

In conclusion, it can be said that while there are endangered species that need attention, there must also be a proper plan to save them and provide them with assistance. That plan should include the government doing their homework first before they initiate any action plans. Furthermore, the plan should include the authorization of scientific organizations to be able to declare a species endangered. Finally, each department should work in unison in order to bring these species back.

Reference

Bueckert, D. (2007, May 1). "Basking Shark is Disappearing; Eradication of Canada's Biggest Fish Started Decades Ago to Save the Fishing Industry." The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 24, 2008. From http://www.lexisnexis.com/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T4956944199&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T4956945202&cisb=22_T4956945201&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=303830&docNo=2