Cristina Zenato Instagram – In the land of shark fin soup
I am attending Adex in Singapore.
This is a great opportunity to discuss the mindset that needs altering when speaking about the conservation of the ocean in general and of sharks in particular.
While I understand that demand is driving a market, when speaking about sharks’ demise, I find that many people are quick to point away from themselves and blame “the others,” be it a culture, a fishing industry, or, as in this case, a location.
While a demand drives a market before we engage in hostile confrontations and overlook personal responsibility, here are a few points we should consider, many of which are lessons I have learned from sharks:
1. We don’t know what we don’t know. Many consumers are not as aware of the exact product they are eating or consuming; in some cases, they might think it’s just a name (like Tiger Balm, which, BTW, is NOT made from tigers)
2. One size does not fit all. Labeling someone under one name because of their origins and culture is incorrect because many people of that location or culture are invested in ocean and shark conservation. There is an entire conference going on right now.
3. Let’s check our situation and what we have done so far to help against practices such as shark fishing or finning, by-catch, and destructive fishing practices such as longlines where we are, in our territory, where we have the power to vote
4. Understanding and communication go a long way together with education. Screaming and calling derogatory names won’t change the situation; if anything, it will alienate a possible audience.
To communicate effectively, we must realize that we all perceive the world differently and use this understanding to guide our communication with others. | Posted on 12/Apr/2024 18:22:39
