How to solve the Cape Cod shark problem

Cape Cod Times ^ | Aug 20, 2019 | Craig A. Will

[Capt. Tom]

Protection of gray seals and white sharks in recent years has led to a problem of shark attacks at Cape Cod. Soon, the Woods Hole Group will release a report on how to deal with the problem.

I also have a report, with perhaps a different perspective and conclusions.

A much-discussed solution is culling the seals. This is unrealistic. Many biologists believe that the Cape seals are intertwined with a larger population in Canada, and seals killed here would be replaced by seals swimming down from Canada. Even if possible, it would be a bloodbath, shown on national television, with Massachusetts residents portrayed as enthusiastic murderers of the cute, doglike creatures.

There might be tourism boycotts. Culling is also against federal law.

Changing that law is very unlikely: The Marine Mammal Protection Act, marine mammals, and seals are all very popular with the public. .(more at the link)

[uranium penguin]

Just send more Canadian Tourists in Speedos. ..
Save the seals..

[Track9]

Tell the moonbats to stop trying to alter the environment.. same as they like telling western ranchers or oil men not to build fences or drilling rigs.

[numberonepal]

Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish Ladies
Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain;
For we’ve received orders for to sail for old England
But we hope in a short time to see you again

[Roccus]

Because of the successful proection of seals and white sharks, we are going to have to live with the new normal of shark incidents as they have done for years in Florida, California , Australia, and other places.

Hey Cap., just think of it as a government jobs program
What with all the studies, committees, panels, surveys, councils etc. this problem will generate from both the state and federal levels, payed for by the taxpayers, the MA employment rate could get a real boost. PLUS, all these gov't workers could be housed "on site" in the soon-to-be-empty rental properties thereby helping to mitigate the drop in tourism.

[Flash Bazbeaux]

what about pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. pineapple shark, lemon shark, coconut shark, pepper shark, shark stew, shark salad, shark and potatoes, shark sandwich. That- that’s about it.

[Jmouse007]

Hire QUINT now!

[Capt. Tom]

Hey Cap., just think of it as a government jobs program What with all the studies, committees, panels, surveys, councils etc. this problem will generate from both the state and federal levels, payed for by the taxpayers,

Already you can add in private companies who are moving in on the problem because of the monetary rewards. -Tom

[Jmouse007]

Love it, outstanding film. Hire Quint and KILL THEM! This is THE SOLUTION to their problem, but they are too PC to do it. So they will be on welfare this winter and for years to come.

“YOU’RE THE MAYOR OF SHARK CITY!”

[Justa]

The author is a liar. Canada has a seal hunt with annual quotas to keep their seal population stable. The US does not and has an uncontrolled seal population. The US needs a seal hunt too.

Reducing US seal populations will not be ‘replaced by Canadian seals’ because the Canadian populations are stable. It’s like saying don’t weed your lawn because your neighbors weeds will just move into your lawn.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_hunting

[jonascord]

"Throw all the liberals in New England to them. It will leave a bad taste in their mouths.

It's that cloying self-righteousness. It leaves a real gluey taste, and the bits get caught in the teeth. Sharks don't have good fang brushes, you know.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

article:

"Even if possible, it would be a bloodbath, shown on national television, with Massachusetts residents portrayed as enthusiastic murderers of the cute, doglike creatures.

Works for me. Although I would not broadcast it on TV, unless of course it was put on pay-for-view. That would be a great revenue generator. At the same time they should enlist some Eskimos to show the locals how it's done the indigenous way.
 

[Red Badger]

Shark Flambe....................

[Georgia Girl 2]

Shark tournament! 😆

[shotgun]

You are spot on, however this is the first image that comes to people's minds when you say seal hunting...

[shotgun]

Seals and sea lions on the docks in Astoria, Oregon

[Justa]

"the first image that comes to people's minds when you say seal hunting..."

[Hatteras]

Actually, no, while it is different than JAWS, it is not more complicated at all. Not buying it. But it is a story because of JAWS and the general proximity of “Amity”, the fictional northeastern coastal tourist town. Sharks go where the food is. The eco-terrorists wanted seals, they got seals... and the sharks followed. Unless there is a technological break through (repellents, barriers, etc. which will take years to develop and implement on a grand scale) somebody has to lose. The seals, the sharks, both? Or else it will be the property owners, local businesses and ultimately, towns and their tourism dollars.

Harvest the seals. It took years for their numbers to accumulate and it will take years for their population to be brought back under control. Human intervention (seal hunting) intentional or not, staved off the problem and allowed people to develop the coastline. They took the human intervention away and after these many years, soon the coastline will be worthless to local business unless they act.

The cheapest way however would be to somehow convince the press to stop getting hysterical over every shark sighting. Yes, it is very sad and unfortunate that one young fellow died and a couple of other people have been tasted. But that is not a major shark problem compared to what has happened in Hawaii, California, Florida and even here on the Outer Banks in recent years. But it is the northeast and people up there are very full of themselves. What typically happens around the rest of the world becomes “stop the presses” news if it happens in New York or Boston.

Respectfully

[Clutch Martin]

Offshore San Francisco there’s an area called the Farallon Islands and during the days of seal hunting the food source for Great Whites was greatly diminished and the great whites disappeared.

Fast forward to when the seal hunting was outlawed and the seal population made a healthy comeback and the great whites returned and thrive to this day on seal populations all up and down the California coast as a result.

So, why are the great whites a problem off of Cape Cod? What is their food source? Have they migrated there from another area lacking a suitable food source only to find another lacking food source?

It would seem odd to me that these sharks would migrate where the food was not.

Granted swimmers are probably less furry and softer and maybe a bit of a delicacy for the great white.

I do not know but if you remove the human factor as a food source perhaps the great whites will once again migrate to areas that are more bountiful.

[Capt. Tom]

But it is the northeast and people up there are very full of themselves. What typically happens around the rest of the world becomes “stop the presses” news if it happens in New York or Boston.

True enough.

Yesterday, I was contacted, and gave an on air interview to a talk show host in London, England.

They wanted to know about the white sharks and beach closings on Cape Cod.

I resisted telling them I was glad they were still interested in the colonies. - Tom

[Berlin_Freeper]

Swim in a lake.
Today:
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