Fishing for oil and meat drives defaunation of deepwater sharks and rays
Industrial fishing and new markets for shark liver products such as biodiesel are driving severe declines in deepwater sharks and rays, raising fears of “18th‑century whaling” all over again. Commenters highlight how bycatch, bottom trawling, and weak regulation in international waters fit into a broader pattern of ocean degradation alongside climate change, pollution, and habitat loss. Proposed responses range from consumer choices like reducing meat and seafood consumption to systemic measures such as stricter global enforcement, tracking illegal fishing, and rethinking growth‑driven economic models.
Use of Shark Livers and Bycatch
- Many are appalled that shark livers are used for biodiesel, likening it to historic whaling repackaged as “green.”
- A cited article’s framing of dead bycatch as a “unique opportunity” is seen as morally grotesque.
- Disagreement:
- One side says using already-dead bycatch is better than wasting it.
- Others argue monetizing bycatch creates incentives to catch more sharks and should instead be punished or strongly reduced, as with dolphins.
Capitalism, Meaning, and “Waste Products”
- Some criticize a worldview where life’s value is tied to producing marketable products.
- Debate compares “work or starve” dynamics under capitalism vs communism, with conflicting claims about which system better guarantees work and living standards.
- Concern that capitalism will always push toward maximizing profit, regardless of ecological damage.
Greenwashing, Biofuels, and Meat Alternatives
- Shark-liver biodiesel is seen as greenwashing: a new supply chain that will inevitably demand more sharks.
- Analogies to “green” alternatives that may be worse (e.g., microplastic leather, deforesting for meat alternatives).
- Intense debate on beef vs plant-based foods:
- Some stress that meat is inherently land- and resource-inefficient, central to Amazon deforestation and climate impacts.
- Others argue “it’s not cow but how,” pointing to grass-fed systems, local beef, and regenerative agriculture.
- Counterpoints note grass-fed is a tiny share globally and cannot scale to current consumption.
Oceans, Overfishing, and Governance
- Broad concern over cumulative ocean harms: overfishing, bycatch, bottom trawling, warming, acidification, runoff, plastics, and noise.
- Framed as a classic tragedy of the commons with weak enforcement and powerful commercial interests.
- Some highlight monitoring initiatives; others are pessimistic about global policy and even suggest drastic enforcement (e.g., sinking boats).
Population, Consumption, and Degrowth
- Some argue population should stabilize or decline via voluntary means (contraception, women’s education).
- Others emphasize that per-capita consumption (especially meat) is the binding constraint.
- Degrowth is highly contentious: portrayed by some as necessary (especially in the West), by others as harmful “suicide pact” likely to hurt the vulnerable.
Veganism, Agriculture, and Activism
- Several see veganism as a strong, immediate lever; others say it cannot by itself solve soil degradation, fertilizer dependence, or complex food-system economics.
- Disagreement over fake meats’ efficiency vs livestock.
- Activism discussion splits between:
- Personal choices (diet) and awareness campaigns.
- Systemic change via political organizing.
- Fringe suggestions of violence, which others reject as counterproductive.
Ecological and Cultural Side Notes
- Whale falls and “marine snow” mentioned as key deep-sea processes, tying whale declines to broader biodiversity impacts.
- Historical context: from whaling-era collapse to fears that large-scale fishing may one day be outlawed.
- Shark-cartilage supplements mocked as pseudoscience exploiting myths about shark cancer resistance.