90% of the world's shark population is already gone. This already has an immense impact on the world's ecosystems. Sharks are also part of Australia's natural heritage, folklore, and history (and I was lucky to see them when I visited your great country thanks to the Sydney Aquarium). I can't imagine what more it would take for your government to find a reason to take action to protect them. In my country, we have many similar flaws in policy. My province in Canada condones an annual wolf cull. (As someone who volunteers to rehabilitate wildlife, I am incredibly disturbed about this as well and for similar reasons to my opposition of allowing any sharks to be hunted.) I think that our species may always exercise a certain influence and control over wild ecosystems. It is quite disheartening to me that this influence has proven to be so destructive and short sighted.

Save the sharks!!

We HAVE to ban shark fishing, it is NOT an option.

Please don't kill more sharks!!

Pues to me vi el documental y todo lo que vi me dio una rabia tremenda por eso y por q no puedo hacer nada para ayudar por que solo tengo 13 años pero ahora estoy tratando de hablar con mis profes de cole por medio de una expocision y mostrandoles el documental a todo el colegio claretaver si c puede hacer algo voy a ver si puedeo ayudar.

After watching the film "SharkWater" I realized just how far the situation has gone and would like to help in anyway I can to stop the cruelty.

We have to help life and love!

We need them!

Please consider the importance of all creatures and their contribution to sustain the balance of nature for us and future generations. Imagine a world without sharks - I shudder to think.

Deseo unirme a la lucha contra la captura del tiburón.

We must be responsible and disciplined to sustain our vulnerable ecosystems for future generations....Please consider this over all else.

"More that 15,000 sharks were murdered while you have seen this movie."

My family, friends, and I are avid travelers, divers, and nature enthusiasts. We will boycott any trips to Australia and any products imported from Australia until the ban is announced.

This is an absolute catastrophe! Have just recently watched the Sharkwater DVD... Can't believe the mess that we've caused to the ocean's eco-system. We have no right to feed human greed in this way. I hope that we can all pull together - I'd like to know what I could do...? I thought the girl who posed as a shark in LUSH had the right idea!

Please, please, please, stop this senseless killing!

Please do not let this sordid affair go on.

How is it possible?

Have we evolved to this?

Please stop killing sharks...How can people do that?! Where are their hearts?!

Keep the shark alive!

I am going to leave this country if it continues to let this happen. The United States is so much better than my home country of Australia, they are smart enough to ban this.

C'est une honte de poursuivre la pêche au requin, tant conscient des conséquences sur l'écho-système et de la disparition de plus de 90% de sa population.

We have too many things to change. You need help, and congratulations.

Do what's right.

Please do what you can to help. This will protect the whole ecosystem of the GBR. Thank you.

I've dove the GB Reef several times and other areas of Australia and am always amazed at the sea life which sharks are a huge and wonderful part of...please do not allow shark fisheries to start...

Sharks are important to our oceans. They MUST be protected!

Save the sharks!

La realidad es que ningún gobierno se preocupa por la caza de tiburones, es por eso que si no hacemos esta campaña se extinguirá una especie que es importante en nuestra vida...apoya a nuestro compañero terricola llamado TIBURÓN!

You've got to understand sharks to understand ecosystems

Save the sharks!

Let's help sharks people!

SAVE THE SHARKS!

Stop the brutality of shark finning and the killing of wonderful creatures! They feel pain like you!

I think that sharks are the beautiful animal in the world but also one of the most indispensable to our ecosystem. I want to do everything I can for eviter their disporition!

As an Australian, the idea of a legalized shark fin trade horrifies me. You may argue that if it is legalized it will be regulated, with all of the body used and none going to waste - but why should we allow their deaths at all? Why not stay true to what the Great Barrier Reef is, a Marine Park?! Australia is famous for it, and now we could become famous for throwing it all to the dogs! You simply can not do this, you act on our behalf and we are telling you a blatant NO!

4898 Serafino Borzellino, Markham, Ontario, Canada

Ban ALL shark fishing immediately throughout the entire the Great Barrier Reef area. Establish sustainable catch limits elsewhere that are based on sound research and vigorously enforce those policies.

4897 Scott Arnold, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Come on guys, we all know that conserving the natural food chain and wild life around the planet is extremely important. Especially on the Great Barrier Reef. Even New Zealand has a sustainable fishing policy that works, is enforced, and is very successful. Why can't Australia? Let's protect our lands and oceans and the life that is in it, so we don't have to show our future generations photos of what an animal looked like. Instead, let's protect the wildlife so we can show our kids first-hand what they look like and maybe even have a positive experience with them. The time to act is now.

Please don't let our world be destroyed by tragegy of the commons. If we don't have sharks our oxygen goes. Wake up people!!

Please stop doing something you can't reverse once it's too late. These lives are not yours to take.

I wholeheartedly support this campaign to protect sharks in the Great Barrier Reef. As a tourist who has visited the area I am appalled that the shark population is to be put under increased pressure given the worldwide decimation of the population.

PLEASE help save our planet!

Por favor basta ya de maltratar a nuestros oceanos, que vamos a dejar a nuestros hijos?? SALVEMOS LA TIERRA!

Stop killing sharks!

Restaurants and stores need to stop serving shark fin and people need to realize that old traditions no longer justify the need to consume these animals to such a degree that we are depleting them at a rate that could make many species of shark extinct. We need to be more aware about what we are consuming. Say no to shark fin products.

Please ban this atrocious practice, that not only is destroying marine life, but that is going to have a direct effect on global warming.

For the future of the man kind and every species on this Earth, save the sharks.

We have to respect every animal to hope to be here tomorrow.

Don't tarnish the name of an island nation by destroying the ecosystem of one of Australia's largest tourist attractions!

Stop killing the sharks. I want my children, grandchildren, and future generations to be able to see the beauty of one of the only animals who have been on this earth (even before humans) for thousands upon thousands of years. Why is it that some people have the right to destroy what should be protected?? Life, no matter what type of life, should come before profit. Governments should be protecting these creatures, not allowing it to happen and letting people who do kill these animals go free to continue to keep killing. It is wrong, and should be treated accordingly.

As a diver, I know first hand that sharks are cautious animals that fear us more than we fear them. We need them in our oceans to maintain a proper eco-balance.

Please let justice be done!

Having been fortunate to work as a videographer on the Great Barrier Reef and experience fantastic shark action on an almost daily basis I have come to conclusion that Australia has simply the best reefs east and west and these must be protected at all costs. All sharks should be protected.

This is a joke, right? Australia is not some country that isn't educated on this sort of stuff. If this is allowed, then we have taken so many steps backwards!

I feel ashamed that we are allowing this.

I don't know what to say, I saw the movie few hours ago and I couldn't believe what I saw. I was so upset and sad at the same time. I promise to do what I can to help. Even if it's just pass information and let more people know what's going on! Thanks for the information. I just hope it won't be too late

Save the world my friend! You can do that! Tu le peux!

Saving sharks for the world.

Don't destroy the world I'm going to walk. I'm 16 now and I see my world destructing day by day. Horrible.

There is more to this than just the preservation of sharks. It is all ecosystems, including ours. It will be our demise if it continues. I would have thought that Australia being a smart 21st century country would be intelligent enough to see past money.

J'aimerai faire plus pour aider mais j'imagine qu'une signature de plus est mieux que rien. Bonne chance!

Just stop!

Partout travers le monde, on a la possibilite de changer l'avenir et nous devons le faire, pour nous mais aussi pour nos generations futures, pour rendre grace tous ceux qui se battent pour un monde meilleur.

Man is the most barbaric creature. We are affecting the ocean's ecosystem, how arrogant to believe it will have no impact on us and future generations. Why must man ALWAYS learn the hard way? For money, naturally! They pay up to $90. for a bowl of shark fin soup!!

To fight the cause it gets better with greater numbers.

Shame on the killers of sharks, dolphins, whales ...leave them alive!

Talk to your friends and family about this, don't preach to them, it doesn't work, but know your facts. It' amazing the reaction on most people's faces when this is brought up for conversation. Good luck.

I am appalled at the action of a nation as intelligent and wealthy as Australia allowing the destruction of ecosystem so essential to the continuation of mankind.

I worked in WA for a year. I seem to remember all the people I met to be in favor of tourism. How does over-fishing of or abuse of any resource move to keeping the planet health?

Save the sharks and save ourselves!

Have we not learnt a thing from our mistakes?? My god, this is insane!

Please support the oceans as they support us.

We can't keep tolerating these types of practices, either we change or we'll see that sharks aren't the only ones that are going to be gone. Shark fishing takes us one step closer to extinction.

This should be banned immediately. We were really disturbed after watching the film and disgusted. Let's hope we can make a difference.

HELP US!

Ban all shark fishing throughout the Great Barrier Reef. GOD placed them there for a reason, to clean the ocean. It is not man's role to make changes in that plan.

Please ban this horrible and disgusting trade...

I think the senseless slaughtering of live sharks is outrageous, cruel, and useless...It's cold blooded! For what.....soup?....disgusting!

I have now decided not to go to Australia. I refuse to go to any country where shark finning is not illegal.

What's the use of killing sharks that won't really bother people?

Everyone has to sign this petition if we believe in our future, because I want my children to enjoy great white shark cage diving.

I visited Australia in 2006 and absolutely loved it. I am planning to return provided I believe that the policies and principals of Australia remain eco-friendly.

People need to start realizing that the human race is destroying the world and that capitalism and greed is behind it. If we have the power to have become this successful as a human race, then we surely have the power to stop this madness.

Sharks are an amazing creature, we have invaded their territory and given them a bad reputation. They have more of a right to be here and live free then we do and these laws need to be enforced!

STOP KILLING SHARKS! This is an outrage!

Stop this insane business with sharks that are already under such heavy pressure worldwide.

Please stop the massacre.

Please don't allow this to happen. Sustainable resources will be our only way of survival. I understand people need to make a living, however this can only be allowed to happen with sensible sustainable limits.

I work with these amazing creatures full time as an aquarist diver and what you propose is not only barbaric but overall damaging to the marine and environment and the rest of your commercial fisheries!

For the love of God and mankind, do not allow this to continue off your shores. We cannot destroy this ecosystem because, if we do, we destroy ourselves.

I hate this kind of commercial fishing, it's horrible. Please respect the sharks, the ocean and nature for the future and the next generations.

In the forest, we do not tolerate a hunting of this scale. Why then close your eyes when it happens in the oceans?

Gentlemen, it's now time to act and react! Make the good decision right now! One planet, one future! Merci.

Saving the sharks must be one of the priorities of the 21st century

Sharks have always been my favorite animal... they are just very intriguing and breathtaking to watch. They are also the oldest predators alive ... even before dinosaurs! There is no reason for why they shouldn't be saved, their history and involvement in the sea ecosystem remain important us!

Je suis horrifié de se qui arrive à cette espèce, il en dépend la santé public si vous n'arrêté pas se massacre.

What would God think?

I am thankful to groups such as yourselves. It is pathetic that we do not learn from previous errors considering we are supposed to be the higher being!

Please do this, it is really important... We don't want to lose such a precious animal.

Je suis révolté face a ce massacre inutile ...juste pour l'argent et ceci pour remplir les poches de gens sans scrupule et sans respect pour la nature et la terre...Il y a toujours un juste retour dans la vie et je le souhaite de tout cœur.

4736 Kven Binette, Cookshire, Quebec, Canada
This is not too late to stop all this! Please, Australia is one of the most beautiful countres in the world, do not let this barbaric law tarnish it.

Thank you, Canal D, for the presentation of the film "Sharkwater."

I dove in these waters and it is the most beautiful underwater environment I have ever seen to this day. Please, don't let it die or us die in the future. Protect the cycle of life!

Quoi dire? Y a pas de mots pour expliquer ce que l'homme fait subir a la nature. Respectons la, elle est la pour nous, on est la grâce a elle. De tout cœur avec vous dans cette lutte sans fin.

False beliefs are costly for biodiversity. Can't we educate people with strong facts and media?!

I watched a documentary about shark fishing just a moment ago and I am so disgusted and I regret just standing by and not being educated at all on this subject. From this point forward I will be a great advocator and fundraiser for this cause - this I promise. Sharks are such a part of every breath we take and if any more sharks are murdered the air that we breathe and that we take for granted will be taken away from us just as fast as these wondrous creatures are disappearing right before our eyes. Please stop shark fishing, please.

J'ai vu votre film et sa porte réflexion et sa nous donne un choc. Lâcher pas les gars.

Please, look at the documentary "Sharkwater." Thank you for your understanding of the situation.

S'il vous plait, sauver les requins!

Pourvu que l'homme retrouve sa raison avant son auto-destruction.

Please stop the killing of sharks and whales. Mr. Garrett, you are one of my youth heroes. Live up to it now! All the other honorable persons: Become one of my present heroes now! Thank you very much.

Australia is one of my favorite countries for travelling. I love diving in Great Barrier Reef. I am really disappointed when I come to know of what the Aussie is going to do. Please ban all shark fishing!

Ban ALL shark fishing immediately throughout the entire the Great Barrier Reef area. Establish sustainable catch limits elsewhere that are based on sound research and vigorously enforce those policies.

Stop killing sharks! If you want to live, let them live too.

Stop killing them!!!!

I will never vacation to Australia, and will encourage all individuals I come in contact with do to the same, for as long as Australia allows shark fishing.

I just watched the movie, my aunt got it for me for my birthday, and I loved it! Always loved sharks and I must agree they are truly fascinating!!

L'homme est toujours très stupide, il ne sait jamais apprécier ce qu'il a; il se détruit tout seul!!

With great power over the world that was given to humankind as a gift comes great responsibility to protect it. Act like it!

It has to change....

Sharks are one of the reasons we can live! The problem is everyone just cares about money, nobody wants to stand up against this. Together we will be successful!

Dear Sirs, Please protect these beautiful and amazing creatures and help stop the destruction of our remarkable seas that are home to such a fantastic array of living creatures and organisms. Sharks play a vital role in our ecosystems and enhance the environments in which they live. Our world and seas would be a much poorer world without them. They need protecting and that needs to happen immediately. We owe it to sharks and also to our children and future generations to conserve and to protect, both sharks and our rich seas, so that they too can appreciate and treasure this beautiful underwater world. Please make a difference by helping to save our environment and not furthering its destruction. Take a stance and do something amazing today in an act that your children will be eternally grateful to you for.

Agissons pour arreter le massacre!

Stop it now! You're killing our future for some poor money...

I don't understand why people do this!

No, No, NO!

Why? What are you doing with our future? Just to earn short money...

Stop this now!

Stop this - soon! You're terrorists on the water!

Soy Venezolano y vivo en Belgica acabo de ver el documental "Sharkwater" la verdad me quede horrorizado con la situacion de los tiburones en Costa Rica, siento un inmenza verguenza de esas personas que viven del mar y de su ecosistema que lo destruyan de la manera tan horrible que lo hacen solo por dinero, hagan conciencia que somos los unicos que podemos deshacer todo el dao que le estamos haciendo a la tierra...Seamos un ejemplo para el futuro no una verguenza para nuestras futuras generaciones

It is hard growing up knowing all the bad things that are happening. When I'm older, I want to travel to the Great Barrier Reef and see all the wildlife there, I want to see sharks there too, or maybe our future will be like Mars's future. Please ban this conspiracy for future generations and the sake of the shark! Save them, don't slaughter them!

Je suis tres choque de voir combien l'homme est un monstre, c'est du massacre gratuit, le pire est de voir les corps de ces magnifiques betes rejets. La mer et de les voir mourir. Je suis un real passionne des requins et le film de Rob Stewart m'a beaucoup touche, au moins un mec qui s'est battu en faveur.

I believe that sharks need our protection, even more so now. We cannot let this horrible process continue. They are here for a reason and are very important to control the ecosystem. Thank you.

I watched "Sharkwater." It made me sick to learn the inhumanity that some humans are committing towards sharks...but then again, they are just sharks right, not humans...so who cares? It is absurd to know that some governments actually condone shark finning. They should be ashamed!

Shark finning is horrible, cruel, and should be stopped before it is too late!

We need to protect the sharks for our own survival as well.

Ban shark fishing, please!

Fight and fight again!

Australia best not let their greed be the demise of the Great Barrier Reef or it will come back to haunt them.

I saw the film "Sharkwater" and I'm horrified. It's necessary to stop this massacre. Pity.

I am totally against long-lining and shark-finning.

I have had the pleasure of visiting the Great Barrier Reef on my last trip to Cairns. It would be a terrible shame if this beautiful piece of God's creation became just another place that people are allowed to abuse the creatures we were meant to be stewards of, and that includes the incredible sharks.

Why have we allowed money to rule this world? When will we all wake up? It is almost too late already for the air and water we need to live. Do we really need to experience the disaster awaiting us?

Stop the insanity!!

The sharks are my friend! I'm a shark lover!

After watching the movie "Sharkwater," I am utterly disturbed with what I have seen with regard to shark finning. I cannot believe that a developed country such as Australia would allow such an unethical practice. I hope that the Australian government will reconsider the seriousness of allowing such a illicit practice in their country's waters.

Humans deserve to be extinct if they are selfish enough to kill any other species towards their extinction.

It saddens me to see what is going on. I can't find the words to describe it. Something needs to be done to save the oceans, and the planet, from the damage we have done.

Stop this barbaric crime.

Please STOP!

I think it is absolutely disgusting that people are illegally poaching sharks and animals of any kind. Humans are a complete disgrace to the planet and I personally think twice about having children in such a disgusting world!!

L'argent que vous rapportera cette peche aux requins n'aura aucune valeur quand vous vous apercevrez que vous aurez detruits tout un ecosysteme qui permet aux hommes de pouvoir vivre. Vous ne tuez pas seulement des requins, vous tuez l'humanit.

I hope adding my voice is able to make a difference in stopping this industry.

The slaughter of any species for money, ego, superstition or vanity is unacceptable. Anyone who knowingly participates in the process should be held accountable. We need tougher laws in all countries!!

Be nice to sharks!!!!!!!

Shark fishing is a disgrace to humanity and it must stop. We have to do everything in our power to end it.

Sharks are one of the most beautiful creatures on earth. Please don't destroy them. I've lost a good friend to a great white attack and still see no reason for the unnecessary slaughter of any shark.

I am a proud Australian, having lived my entire life practically in or under the water. Shark finning in Australia...to think this is happening under my own nose in this (of all) countries, makes me sick to my stomach.

Diving the GBR is one of the best experiences of my life. I saw numerous reef sharks. These creatures need protection to keep the reef ecosystem thriving. Please protect these beautiful creatures. They are an asset to our country worth much more alive than dead.

I'm going to try and raise awareness about shark fishing at Western Washington University (my campus). I just got some of my friends to watch "Sharkwater" and home to get more people. So yeah...I want to do all that I can to help.

This is quickly becoming a very large issue, and Australia would be jeopardizing its reputation by ignoring the cited problems both with shark fishing and the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef.

Your film "Sharkwater" moved me.

My daughter and I (she is 6 years old), ,just finished watching "Sharkwater" for the first time. I felt so many emotions while watching this film ranging from peace and joy, to anger, sadness and rage. I am incredibly disgusted with what people are doing to sharks, and sad. My daughter sat very calmly throughout the film, but expressed on many occasions how sad this made her and how she was going to try her hardest to make a difference and save the sharks. I found this to be wonderful for her. Your film opened my eyes, wide open, to many things that I was very unaware of. I have always liked sharks, but like many people, feared them. I now have a much better understanding of them, and realize why they are so important. Thank you so much!!!

I'm going to try and raise awareness about shark fishing at Western Washington University (my campus). I just got some of my friends to watch "Sharkwater" and home to get more people. So yeah...I want to do all that I can to help.

This is quickly becoming a very large issue, and Australia would be jeopardizing its reputation by ignoring the cited problems both with shark fishing and the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef.

Your film "Sharkwater" moved me.

My daughter and I (she is 6 years old), ,just finished watching "Sharkwater" for the first time. I felt so many emotions while watching this film ranging from peace and joy, to anger, sadness and rage. I am incredibly disgusted with what people are doing to sharks, and sad. My daughter sat very calmly throughout the film, but expressed on many occasions how sad this made her and how she was going to try her hardest to make a difference and save the sharks. I found this to be wonderful for her. Your film opened my eyes, wide open, to many things that I was very unaware of. I have always liked sharks, but like many people, feared them. I now have a much better understanding of them, and realize why they are so important. Thank you so much!!!

Stop fishing sharks!

Please consider how tightly the sharks survival is linked directly to the very air we breathe. We have already endangered these brilliantly balancing creatures. It is time now for respect and sacrifice of human desires.

Its not just about sharks.. this is happening everywhere on our planet Earth, we just keep making things worse. Our governments don't give a crap for anything.. they're all OLD and have like 40 years left of their life or less. They don't care. As long as they get lots of money, problems like this will not be fixed, governments have too much control over everything. If they say it's illegal then it's illegal; if they say it's legal, it's legal. The only way we can help is by pushing our governments around and putting the right people into power but seeing how most people just lie and have a hidden agenda. We as humans are not perfect, but you guys and girls should look at the bigger picture.. it's not just about sharks, what about trees? They cut down millions of trees ever year. Sure they replant, but it takes decades for a tree to fully grow and even then they never stop growing. We used to have trees that were gigantic. So it isn't just about sharks. We ruined this place we call home, past generations never thought of the consequences of destroying and butchering everything around us to make our lives better. Let's hope that when it happens, the day when we can't live anymore, the day we can't call this planet our home, something brilliant happens that turns this whole problem around.

My family had been planning at trip to Australia. We are now looking elsewhere to see sharks in their natural surroundings.

Save the sharks or we will need saving!!!

Preserve the ocean like everything else.

STOP THIS MADNESS!

Please, do something to save the sharks!!!!

This should be illegal everywhere, not just in the barrier reefs. Shark fin soup should be banned across the globe. Your support of this industry has changed my once admirable perspective of Australia.

We as human beings have no right to determine the fate of any of our planet's species. We do however have the right and the power to ensure the protection of the creatures that we share this planet with. I, for one, am fully committed to this idea, and hope that the powers that be can commit themselves to this very same idea as well.

Please stop the over fishing of sharks, please! Our oceans need them....

I am not one to waste my time with regular politics. But these issues that concern our life...our world, well that's different. As with the dolphin issue in Japan. The massacre of sharks, as is, runs up there along the works of Hitler. It amazes me that with the knowledge and foresight we humans have in these days there is even any other choice or question than to stop this destructive slaughter without any further discussion. I am sure that the Asians, as the main buyers of fins, can do without a bowl of shark fin soup. I don't think it necessary to totally stop fishing for shark. As with other species of fish, if done responsibly, and with limits. The shark provides much more than fins, and to see the footage of live bodies definned and just dumped over board...still alive in many cases, is almost Satanic in act. You would think that the hierarchy of this world would have already grasped the destruction that useless greed can lead to. Having said that, it is obvious that the old evil stands true, as long as these people have a cozy home and family to go to after work and hide from the realities of life with no consequence, then I guess we who make it our business to try and provide a healthy and solid future for this world, we'll still have some hard work to do. There are some benefits to limited shark fishing. The shark does provide some fantastic medical and healing aids...which, I might add, in the scientific world new cures and medicines are being brought to reality as I write. Shark steak, like swordfish, and tuna have high health attributes. The entire body can be used. Having said that, I am still of the mind that the illegal finning and slaughter of sharks, as of dolphins, should be nullified at any cost. If the governments are going to continue to look the other way, in order to line their pockets, then it is left in our hands to ensure a bright and prolific future for these wonderful gifts from GOD. In closing, everything in moderation, from diets to any thing that sustains our bodies and lives: beef, pork, fish, work, play, spending, you get my drift. Moderation, my friends, moderation! Thanks for taking the time to read my views!

Unless our countries work together to save the sharks these rightful creatures will disappear just like some species of tigers and, once gone, will never return...

Sharks are one of the most amazing and majestic creatures on the planet, I have always been fascinated by them. There really should be something in place to protect them.

What a waste!

It's a fairly simple issue to understand: By constantly damaging the environment we are constantly damaging ourselves. We (the human race) did not weave the web of life, we are merely a strand in it.

Very disappointing. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the last remaining ecosystems that the rest of the world believes is intact. Obviously not so...

The sick and inhumane operation of shark finning just shows evolution in man has taken a back seat to greed. Any country involved in this should be ashamed, as the waste and cruelty involved is unconscionable. As a meat eater, I understand farming and butchery of animals, but that serves the purpose of sustenance and is slaughtered as humanely as possible and is also monitored. Shark fishing is a cowboy operation and causes severe pain, then the body is thrown back to a slow death. Rant over.

Sharks should be protected by all countries as whales are.

Killing life on Earth for a luxury service has always had a sad ending with a close extinction or complete extinction of a species. In every case, we are killing a little bit of ourselves ignoring the future of our kind for the pleasure of greediness and ignorance.

The Great Barrier Reef is so beautiful with its sharks. Please do not destroy one of the best tourist attractions in the world! The profit from the tourists you will have to come see the sharks on the reef will out last the profit you will make on their fins.

GO FOR IT! Save us.

Just stop massacre! 100 millions sharks by year dying slowly in the bottom of the ocean just for their fin for this stupid soup and money. Just stop all that suffering!

People make me sick.

To save humanity, we must save the wildlife. To save the wildlife, we must save the oceans. To save oceans, we must save sharks.

I'm deeply concerned by shark-slaughtering and hope Australia will not let financial interests rule over the Great Barrier Reef marine wildlife diversity.

If everyone would just realize that we have come a long way, evolved from such a simple life form...If only we could see that in this day and age, we don't need meat to live healthy lives. Meat is something we continue to devour because of habit. If we could just be strong enough to cut that out of our diets perhaps slowly we can begin to realize that we do not need to exploit any animals domestically. Most of the food we grow (like grain) is used to feed livestock. The waste generated by them and the food eaten by them is so massive that if we were to just grow food for ourselves, no one would be hungry. I grew up in a culture where nothing is off limits in terms of food. Whether it was a dog (my dad said he ate dog meat when he was a child in China), a chicken, a snake, a monkey, or a shark's fin. Honestly, in the end it's all the same. You are taking a life to eat their meat. No ifs, ands or buts about it. If we really get down to it, it's almost less hypocritical than to say, "Oh eating a grass-chewing bovine is perfectly ok, no guilt whatsoever," (have you looked deep into a cow\'s eye before?) but eating a cat is so taboo and would make someone see red. Sharks and let's say crocodiles are not the "cute" and "furry" lions or cheetahs of the savannah, so few people care. They're "cold-blooded" or "ruthless" animals with nothing on their minds but the want to kill. It's so ridiculous that humans are so arrogant as to label such magnificent animals such as sharks and crocodiles whom have been around since the time of the dinosaurs and have an intelligence so beyond our comprehension. We understand so little about everything in life and convince ourselves in a fit of delusion that we've got it all figured out. If each and every one of us could just stop eating meat and focus on a region of earth to protect to the bitter end, maybe we will leave our grandchildren's grandchildren a recovering earth that continues to regenerate itself through all these years of abuse and rape. Things aren't just happening "out there"...they are happening every single day in your neighborhood, in your town, in your presence. It's up to each and every one of use with an inch of ethics to do something. The earth and its creatures need us now and we need them.

Hunting of sharks should not only be outlawed but offenders should be penalized severely. The fact that the trade has organized crime ties means this must be pursued even more vigorously.

THIS MUST BE STOPPED!!!

Pathetic and sad. Learn more about them they're highly needed.

Support the shark fining petition! Stop killing for the ocean.

Was deeply disturbed by what I just watched in "Sharkwater." Should be viewed by everyone.

I have just finished watching Sharkwater and the practice of "shark finning" is one of the most inhumane things I have ever seen. The world must act now!

Shark fishing is disgusting in every way possible. The practice is cruel and destructive. Nobody actually wants to eat any part other than the fins, which aren't even wanted for their flavor. We need to learn how to live in a sustainable way, and this is another thing that has to be banned to do so.

Sharks are on the verge of extinction, which means our own extinction. Without sharks controlling the food chain of our oceans there would be chaos, diminishing oxygen and life on earth as we know it. This is seriously scary stuff, folks.

Shocked at what I saw in the movie "Sharkwater." Can't believe that any civilized country would allow for this to happen. Only we have the ability to stop this destructive behavior. Please, no more death of sharks for our own purpose!!!

This is disturbing and disgusting...it makes you realize that the human race is a joke and it's frustrating that there is no one to do anything about it.

When you think of Australia the one thing or, let me rephrase that, the only thing you think of is the wildlife. Sharks are such an important part of the world and I promise that I will never travel or engage in any tourism in Australia unless this stops.

I'm ashamed to be human when I see what we do to this planet and each other.

When I saw "Sharkwater," it brought me to tears and it made me realize that I want to be a part of stopping the barbaric act of shark finning. The people who kill deserve to have the death penalty thrown upon them. But our governments turn a blind eye to these inhuman crimes, therefore they are the true killers. We as people need to stand up together as one voice and fight because we have the power to make a difference and change everything. STOP the killing of sharks now!!

I know Australia is better than this! Please - be a leader in the banning of finning and "hunting" of shark.

Je crie haut et fort qu'il faut bannir toute peche aux requins!!!!!

As a potential tourist, I would never visit Australia nor encourage anyone I know to visit Australia knowing that it supports shark fishing in this time of climate and natural-world crises.

I can't believe this is even an issue of having to sign a petition. Sharks are one of the most IMPORTANT animals in the world, and they are being brutally slaughtered. This is unacceptable.

Now having knowledge of how important the shark is to the ecosystem, it is imperative that we make more intelligent decisions and understand the consequences of our actions. It is foolish to continue to recklessly endanger this species. Stop now.....before it's too late.

Sharks have been around for millions and millions of years, what right do we have to kill them? Sharks are beautiful animals and deserve to live on this planet too.

Our legacy will be the end of human civilization as we know it.

I'm so sad.

Guess it's all about the money.

Sharks are our neighbors, not our enemies. When will we stop the demise of our own planet?

I have been fascinated by sharks for as long as I can remember. Through that time I have bought into the "fact" that sharks are to be feared, but this did not deter my fascination. As I got older, I learned a little more about sharks here and there and the fear is now gone. I am now less fearful and more saddened to see what is becoming of these beautiful creatures. By brutally killing them for such a needless industry, we are only really killing ourselves. I am truly outraged that these practices are being left unchecked and uncontrolled. We need to have this stopped immediately. Not only for the lives of the sharks, but for the life of the environments they play such a crucial role in. And we, the human race, are in that environment whether you want to recognize that or not. Stop shark finning at all costs. Your life and our lives, as we know them, depend on it. Thank you to all who were involved in the making of "Sharkwater." You have truly opened my mind and my heart. You have my support.

Polar bears are drowning, penguins are being crushed by shifting ice, sharks are being killed solely for their fins. Is this why we evolved, to destroy the earth?!

DO THE RIGHT THING!

I think it is just awful to destroy the shark population, especially as we need them to survive.

We need to sustain the population of sharks now!

It seems to me a day can't go by without destroying our own planet. People don't realize the impact on the environment when these sharks are being killed. I find this completely barbaric to see what some humans are able to live with. Sharks are beautiful creatures. Let them live a long and free life.

We should stop the uncontrolled harvest of our oceans and particularly the horrifying shark finning!! We urgently need an international interdiction of that practice and other fishing techniques.

Will we ever learn to treat the earth and its animals with respect and wonder?

Shark populations worldwide have decreased by 90%. If we deplete the oceans anymore, we will irreversibly destructing our lives. We require sharks - the top predators in the food chain - to sustain the oceans for us. Without them, we will lose our precious oceans and be unable to survive. Australia should first and foremost be dedicated to preserving sharks and the oceans, considering your current water crisis. I believe you have forgotten that we require fresh water to survive. This cannot be replaced or recreated in any way.

This is ridiculous and we should know better by now!!! These actions make me ashamed to be a part of the human race!

Stop this now!

Please realize that sharks are a critical part of marine ecosystems.

Save our sharks, they are not monsters but critical components to our ecosystem!

Keep saving sharks!

I just finished watching the movie "Sharkwater" and it honestly opened my eyes to how cruel we humans are and how much we like to think and act like we are gods. When we obviously aren't. I had never heard of this shark fin soup, and I can't see how it can be so famous when it doesn't even enrich the soup with anything except texture. Which can probably be found anywhere. Watching those men cut the fins off the poor creature then throw them back into the water to die was horrible. I was crying through the whole movie and even now I feel like weeping at the thought. How can we think we are the smartest living thing out there when we go do something like this. The human world is based on murder. We try to kill each other and we try to kill everything around us...I'd say we are the stupidest creature to walk this God-given green earth. Even I have to wonder...God knows the future (as he knows everything); why would he create a creature as horrible and as cruel as us humans when all we do it destroy and kill everything around us?

Killing sharks and throwing the natural balance of the ocean into a dark void will have catastrophic effects regarding our fate on this blue planet.

It's a shame to do shark fishing. We need to stop this as quick as possible & alert the authority to do something about it. We need the sharks in the sea! STOP this massacre!

Finning is a very barbaric act. I can't believe any human could do this to any animal, mammal or fish. Is the soup good enough to inflict such unnecessary pain causing death to any living creature except man? They say abortion is unethical - look at what we do to our wildlife. Where is the common sense?

Cut off one arm off everyone who eats shark fin soup and make that into a soup called "One-arm soup." I'm all for it.

THIS IS HORRIFIC! What are you waiting for? Do something now while you still can!

Please make this stop, it is a disgusting practice of money hungry people. Enforce the laws and make this world a better place to live.

Please ban ALL shark fishing!

I think it is absolutely disgusting what is happening with these sharks. I think we are just as barbaric as the very people we condemn.

Please stop this abuse with the sharks. The whole world is falling apart and we need to do everything we can to save it and ultimately us!

Je suis de tout coeur avec vous, il faut sauver notre plante, par tout les bouts que ce soit la fort quatoriale ou les requins, j'ai t sensibilis par le film et bien avant par le livre peu connu "les dents de la mort" de Xavier Maniguet qui milite aussi pour la preservation des requins. Je pense que l'on qu'une terre et que ce que l'on fait subir la faune et la flore doit cesser, merci Greenpeace et aux createurs de ce site issue de cette ong!

Please stop this immediately - it is the very wrong direction to go. I am a master level business student with a Bachelor's Degree in International Affairs and Governance and I know about economic incentives and the pressure that stakeholders can put on political decision makers. Even though it might be tough to stand between the fronts, please do the only right thing and inhibit the legalization of shark fishing. Thank you!

Ban ALL shark fishing immediately.

The ocean needs sharks more than humans do. Shark fishing and finning need to cease, before we destroy an integral part of the oceans delicate ecosystem.

Sharks are extremely important to the world and are on the verge of extinction! Stop making excuses to kill them!

Save The Sharks = Save the Planet!

Stop the killing of sharks! We need them now and in the future for human survival.

Please stop the brutality of shark finning!

Please save the sharks, we need to keep ecological balance!

This is affecting our environment and upsetting the balance of nature. It will affect people eventually.

SAVE THE SHARKS!

The planet and all its riches are for us to care for - this practice is not doing justice to the progress we've made. It is barbaric and uneducated - it must stop. We are to share in the blame by not voicing our opposition. SHOUT NO MORE SHARK FISHING!!!

Please preserve the ecosystem and its beauty. This is the most inhumane thing you could be doing.

I am strongly against all shark fishing.

Please stop over fishing of sharks before all the sharks are gone and the balance of the ecosystem is destroyed.

I can't help but feel a sense of both hope and despair having just watched the film "Sharkwater." Although I have always been aware of the destruction we as humans have been inflicting on the environment for hundreds of years, it was only after watching this film that I realized how urgent and immediate the issue of shark finning is. If more people are aware of the actual FACTS, we might be able to reverse this injustice before it's too late. I just hope it's not too late, and I will be sure to spread the word and do as much as I can as an individual to help raise awareness. Thank you, Rob Stewart and everyone who risked their lives to make this film happen.

Rob Stewart had an amazing courage and appreciation of sharks but more so for life on earth. Congrats!

People need to stop turning a blind eye to what is going on around us. Our oceans and the ecosystems within need to be preserved and protected. Worrying about the next war or the end of the world is just stupid because we're doing a perfectly good job at destroying our natural resources one by one. How many resources, and ecosystems, need to be destroyed before people realize that they are worth more than money? Most likely when it's too late to rectify anything.

Do what you know is right!!!!

Sharks are too important to the ecosystem and the planet to allow them to become victims of long-line fishing or illegal shark fin fishing. If we don't protect them, we are not protecting the people.

Please ban shark fishing now!!!!

Stop that!

Please, please don't let this happen to sharks. Extra fish & chips isn't going to make up for the damage to the ecosystem and loss to tourism that will suffer from this.

If we all work together, we can make the change.

I am more than concerned about the effect that fishing sharks to low numbers will have on the human races ability to exist on this planet. I must also voice my disgust about the barbaric way and conditions that these "gods of the sea" are being slaughtered. When will we realize that all the money in the world cannot and will not deliver us our precious breath, oxygen? Only nature can do that. Please do everything in your power to sustain the harmony between sharks and humans. Stop the madness. Start the love healing bond.

It is responsible for Australia to protect the sharks and ecosystem within their power for not just yourselves but for the rest of the world!!!!

Until sharks are off of the endangered species list, I believe that you should ban ALL shark fishing. If we do not take care of our ecosystem no one else will. I also think that the consequences should be severe to those who are caught. We only have one earth...let's take care of it for our children. Thanks for your time.

I've always been fascinated with sharks, after watching "Sharkwater," I am truly a saving shark advocate - please stop shark finning!!!

We have just watched "Sharkwater," a piece on sharkfinning, so sad. Please help stop this now any way you can. Be part of the solution.

What ever happened to chicken noodle or broccoli soup? Banning shark fishing is one step that needs to be taken but educating those who believe in obtaining divine powers from eating shark fins is another task altogether.

I just watched "Sharkwater" and was very disturbed by the shark finning industry. Shark fishing and long line fishing altogether needs to be abolished.

We watched "Sharkwater." Very sad the way we behave as a human race. How can we ever make things right again?

Killing sharks or any other animal is cruel. It's no different than what the Germans were doing to the Jews...other than the perceptions of the event by humans.

Please save the sharks one last refuge from humanity. They have more of a right to exist on this planet than we do.

Let's try not to be the shame of our own future generations.

These magnificent creatures deserve our protection, not our brutality. Ranking high on the food chain, sharks help keep our oceans in balance and have the right to survive. Make the right choice and protect these awesome animals who have survived for over 450 million years.

I spent 2 months diving and swimming in and around the Great Barrier Reef in 1998. I tell people of my great adventure and encourage them to go to Australia to have the same adventures as I did. Stop the fishing of sharks in this region. I will not endorse or encourage tourism to your country until Australia imposes a ban on imports of shark fins. I am going to tell everyone I meet and know NOT to visit Australia. The power of word of mouth! I work for a Canadian tourist office and I see and speak to hundreds of people a year. I know the impact of the tourism industry.

Most sharks that are caught have their fins cut off and are dumped back into the ocean while still alive. Disturbing!!!

You are all incredibly heroic! I admire what you do and am so glad that there are people out there as brave as you are! Thank you for what you do!

Sharks are critical in holding the balance of our planet's delicate ecosystem. Without them phytoplankton populations will dwindle and carbon dioxide will soar. Please be one of the few countries with integrity to take a monumental stance against the banning of shark fishing.

You are wrong. You guys are effecting the whole food chain. Killing sharks for their fins as decorations in a soup! If you let fishing continue we'll be affected, too.

The cruelty to sharks due to finning is inhumane. Please stop this unnecessary and cruel behavior and save our sharks.

Let's wake them up!

Think of the future!!!! It is barbaric and pure evil to be killing these kings of the underwater world. Please stop!!!!

I have recently researched about sharks and realized how ESSENTIAL they are to the ocean and the world. We have a lot to thank them for. Amazing creatures!

Sharks have kept the ecosystem in balance for a long time as predators and have even contributed to evolutionary pressures. It is time for us to SAVE them.

Conservation of the whole reef is at stake. I hope Australians wake up and realize the damage they are doing to something so unique and beautiful. The Great Barrier Reef is the only living thing visible from space, and at the current rate of destruction to the reef, it will be wiped out in the next seven years. Unbelievable. Save the sharks, save the reef.

It is absolutely disgusting that this is even an issue. That we, as a supposed advanced race, have to fight to keep a species alive. It's funny how humans like to destroy things they classify as "dangerous." Yet everyday you walk around with each other when we should be fearing each other. Humans kill more humans than any shark. I support the protection of sharks whole heartedly.

This is crazy! We must stop this disaster before it's too late.

Thank you to those responsible for spreading awareness about shark finning. I only became aware of these practices recently when my friend had me watch "Sharkwater"... I couldn't believe what I was seeing and now I too will be sure to do what I can to save sharks.

STOP THE KILLING OF SHARKS!!!

Please ban all shark fishing so that they may have a chance to avoid extinction. If they vanish, what will the shark fishing industry do?

Watch "Sharkwater"....90% of our sharks have already been killed for their fins or by over fishing. This will impact the kelp producing our oxygen on earth. Please start protecting our sharks before it is too late and our planet is drastically changed for ever.

Stop the hate! Stop the killing! We are not God, we do not have the right to KILL these beautiful creatures. To change the future we need to start TODAY!!

I have always been afraid of sharks but I appreciate and see the need for them in our world. Remember they were here before us and deserve to stay here. They are not a threat to our environment or lives but we are to them. Stop the shark fishing. We need to get back to the philosophy, only take from the earth what we need and remember to give back and give thanks!

Save the sharks!

Help reduce/ban shark finning in international waters because, although there are people out there wanting and trying to save sharks, we may be too late by the time we have achieved the ability to make a difference. The time to act is now!

The time for action is now, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most magical places on earth. Without sharks, it simply won't be the same. Sharks, unlike other animals, can't be farmed, when they're gone, they're gone for good. This is the year 2008, I think we're smart enough to know this is wrong and cannot continue sustainably. What we do today will echo in eternity, let us save sharks today to ensure a greater tomorrow!

Please save the sharks in the Great Barrier Reef area. MAKE SURE THESE POLICIES ARE ENFORCED!

Stop shark and all fishing in the Great Barrier Reef now before we kill the planet and ourselves.

I grew up a child afraid of sharks whilst living on the Great Lakes merely from the impact of the movie Jaws on my young, impressionable, naive mind. Realizing the silliness of my fear years later, I took my fear on and dove right into the Great Barrier Reef thirty years later - my heart full of fear but the beauty of the reef and absolute awe of such a wonder, fear of sharks was the last thing on my mind. If I were to see a shark, I would probably die from pure shock but such fear of ones own insignificance does not warrant desecrating a species. Our world as we know it will never be the same. You, as leaders of our world hold the power to influence what our world will become. Don't disappoint us; we depend on you to be the conscience of capitalism and the protectors of our land. I would be most disappointed to return to Australia and witness the loss of one of the worlds wonders.

Shark finning should be banned all over the world...

Stop this atrocity - NOW before it's too late!!!!!

Let's not stand for this anymore. We have the power to make a better tomorrow!

You should be ashamed of yourselves for even considering allowing shark hunting within your treasured area. When will humanity win over finances? I guess when it's too late!!!

I think that the shark finning industry is disgusting. How could you do that too a shark? It would be just the same as some higher species coming around your home dragging you onto a boat cutting off your legs and arms and then throwing you back onto the ground to rot.

Life on land depends on life in the ocean.

Please stop this barbaric act that not only impacts sharks but their prey, changing the ocean's ecosystem. This, in turn, will have impact on human populations.

Ban shark fishing, without our sharks we will not have a fishing industry. Everyone knows we need the garbage species to clean up, that is their job.

Please protect the sharks before it is too late.

I am horrified by the greed of humanity for profit. What we are doing to the environment is unthinkable and has to stop!

I have been to Australia on two occasions to dive and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. I do not need to point out that the reef and the marine life that live in this ecosystem is a huge attraction for tourists. Allowing shark fishing is short sighted and inhumane. The tourist industry is far more valuable than the unsustainable fishing practices that are taking place in many of the world's oceans. A wonderful country like Australia should set the example for conservation of our natural resources. The world will be watching closely.

I am amazed that the Australian government is taking little to no action to prevent the extinction of such a beautiful marine species when the country prides itself on the barrier reef. What a ridiculous contradiction.

As a 15 year old child, the extinction of the shark would greatly impact my life as they are of great interest to me. I don't want to have a child ask me "where are all the sharks?" when all I can say to them is "humans took them." Do you want to be a part of that in a child's future? Or will you enforce the law and help preserve these magnificent beings? The choice is yours. The future is ours.

What are the shark fishermen going to fish for when all the sharks are gone? Surely it's in their interest as well to take notice. My understanding is that there are 2 countries who can have the biggest impact & change this, if there's no market for a product then the greed should disappear. Education is a long term solution, but how long have the sharks got? Watching the "Sharkwater" DVD it occured to me how young most of the sharks were, not even given a chance to get to sexual maturity, they don't stand a chance do they? The Australian Government have such tight laws regarding their freshwater fish, why do they care so little about their incredible marine life? I have been involved in the dive industry for 10 years now and there's nothing more majestic than the sight of a shark, especially now as we see less & less. I spent 12 months in Queensland & can't believe a government whose eco-policies I had some respect for are even considering this legisalation & I call on all divers and snorkellers alike to boycott their whole dive industry if this legislation goes ahead! Hit them in their wallets where it hurts!

I can't believe Australia hasn't already banned shark fishing in the Great Barrier Reef already. People need to be educated on sharks and the effect that this will have on the underwater ecosystem as a whole! Save the sharks!

I am very disappointed that this is even being considered - the reef is a global treasure and needs to be vigorously protected for the benefit of all life on earth. Please don't sell it for a few bucks. With a little imagination I'm sure another economic opportunity will present itself.

Sharks are a passion of mine and the main reason I go diving. I've been to the Great Barrier before and loved my shark experience. It would be a disaster to lose such amazing creatures.

As a fish and wildlife student, I realize now more than ever the rate at which species are disappearing. We will eventually be responsible for one of the largest mass extinction of all time unless we fight back. Laws are written but change nothing. The people we elect are supposed to represent us, the general public, but instead keep their activities silent no matter how terrible they are in order to secure a profit. Something most be done. Tell your friend, spread the word and let's leave the world the way we found it somewhere for our children and grandchildren to be proud of.

Please stop this atrocity!

Ban ALL shark fishing immediately throughout the entire the Great Barrier Reef area. Establish sustainable catch limits elsewhere that are based on sound research. Vigorously enforce those policies.

Sharkwater was an amazing movie and I think that Rob Stewart is a hero and everyone should spread the word of the finning industry.

This is a REAL issue and poses a REAL danger to humanity. There is so much misinformation and stupidity regarding "being green" and preserving nature, such as the idiocy of "carbon taxes." It is hard to know what to fight for and what to support. If we unbalance and lose the plankton populations of the oceans, life itself will cease... At least any life that needs oxygen.

The Great Barrier Reef is a treasure that we need to protect and to do that we have to protect all species associated with it. We need to save those sharks.

I strongly oppose all killings of sharks. We need to wake up and realize that without sharks the ocean would be very different and we would lose most of the oxygen we need to breath & live. Sharks are very misunderstood, they are not a threat to us and without them it will be the human race under threat.

J'ai vu le film "Sharkwater" et, je suis horrifié et scandalisé à la fois. Tuer cet animal merveilleux, lui couper les nageoirs et le jeter vivant, c'est cruel inhumain!

I strongly encourage banning ALL shark fishing and finning immediately throughout the Great Barrier Reef area. I also encourage extreme punishment to any persons lacking empathy towards all living creatures. I have joined the fight in saving our sharks and our future.

I saw the sharks having their fins removed and thrown back into the ocean. I thought I would be sick. I have to do something to help or I wouldn't be able to respect myself anymore.

Homo sapiens are supposed to be the most highly evolved form of life on the planet. It's long past high time we started proving it. Sharks are not the man-eating monsters people believe them to be ... nor are they some lifeless commodity that we can pillage at will for the sake of our own greed. They're a vital part of every ecosystem in the oceans with unsurpassed power, beauty and grace. For God's sake ... not to mention our own ... leave them alone!

Please stop this senseless slaughter of these beautiful creatures of the sea.

Sharks are a beautiful creature and killing them for their fins is a terrible thing... If they want to kill an animal they should use the whole animal and killing them should be done in moderation not at the levels that they are doing it.

Killing sharks is killing ourselves! Make it stop!

I'm astounded that proper measures are not already in place for a country whose pride and joy is the Great Barrier Reef. I've been to Australia before and only hope the reef will still be as it was when I go back again. Regulations have to change.

This is both an issue of animal/wildlife cruelty and also an environmental need. Please fight to guarantee a safe and sustainable planet!

Please protect such a wonderful place on earth.

It is beyond irresponsible to let shark hunting continue.

Please think of our futures as well as our children's.

Stop all shark finning!

Sauvons les requins!!!!

Please protect sharks - they are indispensable for sea balance!

Dear Sir/Madam, I would hope you will take my letter seriously as I have been recently educated in how sharks are being legally and illegally harvested for their fins by long-line fishing in some countries in South America and on the outskirts of the Galapagos Islands. Virtually millions of sharks are being slaughtered for profit and sold to Asian countries. This is only to preserve a misinformed myth that the consumption of shark fins can cure ailments and disease such as cancer. Millions of sharks are being killed and slaughtered for nothing but a sham. This industry must stop and be banned. Not only for the fact that this practice is abominable, callous and grotesquely upsetting, but for the simple fact that these creatures are still living for days after their fins are severed from their bodies and then dumped in the ocean to bleed out and then die at the bottom. This practice is disruptive to the natural order of the ocean to maintain marine ecosystems and marine life cycles. That the killing of these marine creatures will ultimately upset the balance of life as we know it on earth, regardless of any TRUE knowledge of what sharks do to maintain our earthly habitat. Sharks are misunderstood creatures which tales have made appear highly confrontational and aggressive of which they are neither and are only basing their actions on instinct. We are scared of the unknown. Please educate yourself on why one of the greatest predators in the ocean should not be made extinct by poachers that are ultimately raping the planet. I would also like to add that I would like the illegal poaching and illegal propagation of endangered wildlife to stop infiltrating into the black markets of China and Asia. That currently the exportation and harvesting of animals is putting a great strain on the worth of life, both human and animal. We must conserve the many species that rely on us for their protection from extinction and the greed of man. Hopefully knowledge is gained from the grievously misunderstood before we ultimately loose the wisdom they may give us without suffering and the end of life. Please feel free to contact me for further discussion on this topic. Thank you very much for your time.

Stop this holocaust!! THE PLANET IS IN PERIL!!

Sharks are essential for the long-term survival of ocean habitats and it takes a blatant disregard of scientific facts to believe the contrary. Promoting shark fishing is irresponsible and poses tremendous risks to already threatened shark populations.

The killing of sharks for their fins is disgusting and appalling. The fin is used purely for texture. The killing is inhumane and repulsive and anyone who is doing this is surely going against God and the creatures He has put on this earth for us to co-habitat with.

Please, stop it, please.

The killing of sharks means the killing of yourselves. This is mass suicide.

You've made me more aware and compassionate to the water world. Please save the sharks!

The oldest living predators in our seas deserve our respect and our protection. We should learn from a species that's been around for millions of years because at the rate we're going, we'll run ourselves into the ground within the next century. And, unfortunately, take many of the species of the world with us.

When will the world wake up and realize we are slowly killing ourselves? I fear the world's overfishing of the ocean's top predator will have a bigger environmental impact on the world than global warming. We can at least stop global warming, what do we do once a species has been wiped out by us and we find out it is truly needed in order for our own survival?

I think it is appalling that a wealthy and developed country such as Australia would exploit one of their national treasures!

My 7 year old son and 4 year old daughter watched the documentary "Sharkwater" with us and were both sad and angry along with us that anyone would harm a shark and that they are not protected.

Sharks are a vital part of our planet's well being and survival. Even on an entirely selfish human level, we should protect sharks if only to study them for their immune system's uniqueness, and its potential to cure human diseases. SHARKS ARE FRIENDS, NOT FOOD!

I have never seen such animal cruelty as was done to the sharks in the movie "Sharkwater." Something needs to be done to change what is happening.

I am of Asian descent and am appalled by the finning industry. I have told all my friends to watch Sharkwater. I don't expect all of them to ban the soup as I have, but hope to at least inform them of this cruelty... Please save the sharks!

Please treat above petition as a matter of urgency! Be a part of our planet's future...

I am just shocked that this reckless abuse of a marine animal population continues! And in Australia? Disgusting!

Ban all shark fishing, please, there are other obvious ways to make money without destroying the ocean habitat.

Ban all shark fishing immediately. It is disgusting that this actually exists. I am so disgusted by these people.

Sharks are not needed for human wellness in this advanced century. They are needed for ocean life, eco-balance, and earth's oxygen production.

By allowing the vicious murders of these creatures, we are killing ourselves.

I'm disgusted that this is allowed in the Great Barrier Reef! Do something immediately, stop this barbaric shark fishing! Let's decrease our footprint and do something good for once!

I saw the documentary on the shark situation and it saddens me. We have one planet to live on and share with our kids yet we are destroying it in so many ways! Why don't we have any organization making rules for our oceans like we do on land? Let's all join together and save our planet now. Tomorrow it could be too late.

Nous devons absolument cesser toute cette peche au requin ou devrais- je dire, ce genocide anti-requins... Ce sont les maitres de l'ocean. Pensons a notre futur, pensons a notre terre et nos enfants... Pensons donc aux requins! Sauvons les!

Harvesting for food under strict guidelines for the preservation of the species is one thing but the senseless slaughter of any creature is unacceptable under any circumstances. Regulations regarding the humane treatment of these creatures must be a priority not only of this government but also man.

United we can make a difference.

Let's save sharks, and in turn save ourselves!!!!

Let's not leave a legacy of destruction, but one of beauty for those who come after us.

Please help end shark finning in every country. Our planet can't afford to keep losing sharks at the rate that we are now.

Please ban ALL shark fishing immediately throughout the entire Great Barrier Reef!!!!

The brutality that this creature is enduring for its fins is unacceptable. You should be protecting them rather than exploiting them further.

Protect the sharks, it's good for your Karma account! PS: if you want to know the easiest way to save the planet, go vegetarian! :) Animals aren't ours to do what we please with.

As a tourist of Australia who raves about swimming with sharks and other amazing life along the reef, I ask Australians to be leaders. Use your influence to stop consumption of shark fins. Use your strength to ban and enforce a restriction on shark finning.

I just saw the movie "Sharkwater," and it is amazing. It really opened my eyes to what is happening to the world. Thank you for that. Please stop the unnecessary slaughter of sharks.

The beauty of the shark and it's role in the environment is too enormous to ignore. The TOTAL DISREGARD for the life of a shark being finned is showing the total disregard for human life. Thought needs to be given to what the future will hold if change is not brought about.

Just saw Sharkwater. APPALLED at shark finning and had NO idea what we were doing to these creatures.

I just watched the movie "Sharkwater" and I am absolutely appalled and sickened by the senseless slaughter of these magnificent creatures. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO STOP THIS!!!!

For our future and the future of our children, ban shark finning.

No sharks = No oxygen.

We need them to stop now, please.

My family and extended family are boycotting anything & everything coming from countries that do not ban shark fishing.

Well, I'm not going to be impressed if this happens while the shark population has already declined by 90%. I think it would be outrageous to let people to fish for sharks in our Australian waters.

One of the reasons for travelling to Australia recently was to dive with sharks. The loss of these fantastic species would seriously harm the diving tourism in the area.

Save the sharks!!!!

Save the sharks, save humanity!

Oh my God you people are maniacs! Why would you bother killing LOADS of sharks and sell their fins when they do nothing for soups, powers, or cure any diseases??? And definitely not in the Great Barrier Reef because then no sharks will be left anywhere in the world which ultimately means that all little fish are going to grow and overpopulate and screw things up! Not the barrier reef! I'm 15 years old and I want the sharks to be there when I'm 30 to show my children!!!!

Why are we killing sharks, what did they do to us? What's 5 shark attacks per year, when we kill that many in 5 minutes? Why do you countries eat shark, it has no taste, sharks deserve to live.

SAVE THE SHARKS! Do whatever you can!!!!

SAVE THE SHARKS!!!! Do whatever you can!!!

Sharks have rights.

Stop the senseless slaughter of these majestic animals! They've been here for 400 million years!

I feel Australia is known for its natural wonders including the Great Barrier Reef. Allowing sharks to be over-fished or losing some species to extinction would be a terrible tragedy.

Stop this NOW before it's too late! We have already done too much damage!

Sharks are so important to our planet. We need to save them.

Value our future and our future generations. Protect the sharks, say "no" to new shark fishing on the GREAT Barrier Reef.

Is there no honor left in the world?

It would be a huge disappointment to find that Australians have allowed for further destruction of one of their greatest natural resources and national pride. The Barrier Reefs have already been, and continue to be, depleted at a rate far beyond it's capacity to regenerate. Please fight to protect yourself from exploitation.

SAVE THE SHARKS!!!

I feel this is absolutely one of the worst ideas in the history of mankind!! We are depleting the oceans at an alarming rate and now we are going to destroy one of the last great sanctuaries for marine life by allowing this kind of "fishing"?! I'm becoming more ashamed to call myself a human being anymore after reading about these kinds of decisions made by supposed leaders of our countries!!

I am horrified by these practices. It makes me ashamed to be a human!

I am in full support of this campaign.

It is so heartbreaking to see how these sharks are so savagely de-finned and left to die! People need to be made aware ASAP where these fins and soups are so "popular" that it's such an inhumane act! It needs to be banned somehow. How can people do such inhumane acts!! Maybe someone should go cut off there arms and legs and throw them in the ocean! There should be more education to these countries/areas/people that are consuming/buying these fins etc..! Tougher laws, fines etc... It has to stop! It is not necessary for sharks to become extinct!

I would urge you to protect the shark and in so doing protect the earth, OUR HOME.

Anything involving killing animals for money is simply wrong, definitely when the animals are partially the reason we're alive.

It would seem an idiotic idea to allow the continuation of shark hunting based on the fact that we're severely affecting the worlds main supply of oxygen, with unknown results!

I have seen the movie and was shocked that so little is known about the world collapse of shark populations. It is clearly an important animal in ocean ecosystems. I agree that the establishment of a shark fishery and industry is highly inappropriate. In addition to that the Great Barrier Reef should be off limits to any kind of fishing. It's a World Heritage listed environmental sanctuary which we should guard and protect at any cost.

It is absolutely appalling to see these creatures killed so cruelly. Something needs to be done to stop it as soon as we can - which, in all honesty, should have been a long time ago.

Please do the right thing.

This situation is totally unacceptable!!! The planet is in a crisis condition. SAVE THE SHARKS!!!

Would you like it if someone caught you, cut off your arms and legs and then let you bleed to death? I wouldn't. Stop shark finning!!

Please put a stop to this!

Common people STOP finning sharks if all the sharks die we're gonna die as well from lack of oxygen, so how about you guys stop? Thanks!!!!

Sharks must be protected for future generations. We have already lost too many species that our children will never have the chance to see. We cannot afford to lose these majestic creatures as well.

Ban all shark fishing & finning!

It seems like the Qld Gov't is trying to give Australia as bad a name as Japan has in regards to it's whaling operation. What is their agenda and what gives them the right to allow shark fin fishing to take place? They do not own Nature. This world would function very well if it wasn't for greed. It is a natural balance of all things that make up the world and it looks like the Qld Gov't is out to upset this balance. Are lessons never learned?

Just watch "Sharkwater."

Stop this for our children !!!

PLEASE DON'T DO IT.

Please create a long term solution to saving our sharks!

C'est la premiere fois de ma vie, en coutant un reportage, qui m'atteint autant... Ce reportage m'a fais pleurer... Bravo au producteur et a leur courage!

I am greatly concerned about the state of the world's sharks. It's such a horrible crisis that is greatly ignored, but if it continues in this direction the results will be truly catastrophic. I believe we can stop that though before it's too late. Please, let's save the sharks (and the world).

I think we are all currently watching the earth and all its creatures dying. When we have destroyed everything we will eat people. Please prove me wrong.

There should be more education in the countries that create the markets eg. China & Taiwan. Destroy the demand...save the sharks! (It's never that easy...but it's a start.)

Let the world go its natural way.

Stop embarrassing Australians all over the world with your ignorant, destructive, outdated policies! Do the math! Live sharks generate more revenue & save more money. Der!

Make it work!

I think the best quote in Sharkwater was:"We're just a bunch of primates out of control."

Sometimes what seems such a small issue has an hidden impact that will upset all sorts of balances. Please reconsider this decision.

Je suis horrifié par le comportement attardé, précaire et puéril de ceux qui détruise ainsi la vie maritime de nos océans. J'ai vu Sharkwater, un film militant qui se bat pour des causes justes, la protection d'un écosystème animalier, qui doit aujourd'hui survivre a la niaiserie financière d'une pêche mondialiste aoutrance! L'attitude des gouvernements m'inspire la frustration et le dégout. Les grandes puissances de ce monde ne font rien pour stopper la destruction des requin qui sont des acteurs vitaux dans le monde marin, veillant a la stabilité animale. Par conséquent je rejoinsavec joie cette pétition qui, je l'espère, doit être un cri d'alarme, afin d'éradiquer cette culture et/ou coutume (moyenâgeuse)de destruction des espèces animales, afin de nous prémunir d'une catastrophe humaine planétaire inévitable si nous,et les puissants de ce monde,ne prennont pas conscience de la catastrophe qui nous guette.... Réagissez, mobilisez vous au plus vite !!! Le temps joue en notre défaveur. Merci a vous de m'avoir permis de donner mon avis sur cette abomination, je suis de tout coeur a vos coté.

What gives us humans the right to decide what can live and die!

Beautiful film, BRAVO!

I been several times to the Great Barrier Reef, therefore I think it is completely demented that the Queensland government is doing that. Open your eyes!!

Killing sharks is a crime. We are the stupidest animal.

Ban shark finning and stop the killing of over 200000 million sharks per year. Sharks are the real Victims, help keep our oceans balanced!

I am horrified and heartbroken after seeing Sharkwater. The killing of sharks must stop now!

I was devastated and overwhelmed with emotion after watching Sharkwater....I was already aware that sharks were a misunderstood animal.....It's not one of humanity's finer moments. We need to take action to stop finning and mass slaughtering of sharks.

The loss of sharks in oceanic ecosystems would be a devastating blow from which we would not be able to recover. The time for passivity is over. The time to act is now, before it is too late.

Please, for the sake of these beautiful creatures and our planet and OURSELVES!

Please save the sharks!

We need to wake up out of our complacency and stop the senseless slaughter of sharks in the Great Barrier Reef. I have donated money and am prepared to donate some time to encourage Chinese restaurants in my community to remove shark fin soup from their menus.

Save the sharks!

Please stop fishing sharks!!!

Please...This doesn't make sense. Being Canadian, and wishing I could go to Australia someday to see it's natural beauty, I seriously wonder if it will exist in 20 years,with practices like this one being supported by it's government. Australia's diverse, unique wildlife, including the beautiful and irreplaceable Great Barrier Reef, are world-renowned. Does Australia want to replace that reputation with the world witnessing barbaric practices such as finning? Being blamed for the destruction or serious and perhaps irreversible damage to the Great Barrier Reef due to the depletion and/or extinction of the apex predators?. I don't want to go to Australia to see shopping malls, city streets and bleached, dead reef beds. I don't want to see your unique and beautiful wildlife hanging on by a thread. Ecotourism is Australia's biggest draw. Don't lose it. Don't assume that supporting the "managed" harvesting of sharks or any other species will work. It didn't work in Canadian waters...our fish stocks collapsed, even with "managed" quotas. Please, in the face of all the scientific data on declining shark populations. In the face of our complete lack of understanding of these beautiful and fragile ecosystems, don't allow this to happen. Err on the side of caution. Stand-up...show integrity and wisdom. You'll be respected and applauded for that. You won't be respected and applauded for allowing the destruction and depletion of one of the world's greatest wonders.

Please stop this practice from being legal. Stop the shark fishing!!!!!

SAVE THE SHARKS!!!

Take some pride in one of your greatest resources, and protect it for Australians and all of the world to enjoy for generations to come.

This movie was very disturbing. I was very sad to see what was happening to these poor sharks. Killing these poor sharks just for their fins. Seeing them get their fins cut off then thrown into the sea alive to die was disgusting. These people that do this should have their heads cut off and be thrown back into the sea.

People can be so arrogant and this needs to stop...! SAVE THE SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Knowledge is power, a cliche, yes, but this does not make it less true. We have shown ourselves capable of compassion and understanding once we have been educated on the true nature of a species and its role in the world we share. So it has been displayed with efforts to save the dolphins, whales and seals to name some of the more popular causes of our oceans. Sharks are important to maintain the delicate balance of the oceans ecosystems and deserve the same protection as all animals that have been threatened by man's irresponsibility.

Save the sharks, save yourselves.

I just finished watching the movie about 10 seconds ago. I'm so sad that our world has come to this. Life is more important than money. DO NOT HURT LIVING THINGS!

Save the Sharks PLEASE!!!

Save the sharks!

Knowing about the problem is just the first step.

Australia should not be known as the country that allowed commercial interests to destroy the Great Barrier Reef.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE....The GBR is such a magical place...The only one of it's kind on the planet. Please don't destroy it.

Please ban shark fishing in the Great Barrier Reef. These places that define your country are not only beautiful places that encourage travelers and dreamers from afar, but ecological areas of vast diversity and proliferation. The ocean is not a curtain from which we can magically produce infinite resources. We cannot continue to brutalize and waste top predatory animals without cutting off resources of millions of other life forms. Reef diversity and biomass depends upon the balance between predator, prey, vegetation, and scavangers to thrive. By removing one important piece (sharks) there will be catastrophic consequences in the future, not only to fishieries but to the barrier itself. The barrier reduces impact caused by hurricanes, tsunamis, and tropical storms that threaten terrestrial life, us, and other animals.

Do we kill the ecosystem of our sea ??? Of course if it's for money! So why don't kill the greatest predator at heart? Maybe we can make more money with human meat!

As an Australian citizen I am appalled at the Australian government's plans to legalise fishing of endangered species, when clearly the practice should be banned internationally and effectively policed. Mr Garrett, it Reeks of Politics, and you should be ashamed.

It's time Australia took a stance against such cruel and destructive practices. Don't wait for the rest of the world.

What on earth would fishing sharks provide? I'd like my future children to be amazed by these creatures too!

Respect LIFE!

If we allow this fishery Australia and her government, local & federal, will lose all credibility in every and any aspect of conservation. Our Government, frankly, would be a joke and loathed by its voting citizens. Please do what you know is the right thing.

Having had direct experience on fishing vessels as an Australian fisheries observer, pandering to the few, relatively wealthy, for the short term gain is insane. I have seen the waste involved!

Save sharks!

It is very barbarous to kill animals and take only a small part of it and throw the rest away! And all this for the money!

Australia is a beautiful country, and Steve Irwin would have wanted the reef protected. Lets honor him and save our oceans.

Our actions will affect us all when the top food chain predator is gone.

How could you support shark finning when 90% of the shark population has already been decimated???

You are a civilised country - behave like one, ban all shark fishing now and do all you can to save these amazing animals. You have the power and money to do so. SAVE THE SHARKS!

Saving sharks is urgent! Stop killing them... They are very important for the planet.

BAN ALL SHARK POACHING!

Sharkwater the documentary has opened my eyes about our shark population - I will not be eating shark fin soup again. Thank you

Please help save this incredible species!!

This planet is home to many creatures; the fragile ecosystem of the ocean is what sustains life on earth. Once our ecosystem becomes unbalanced due to thoughtless and senseless killings of one of the earth's oldest creatures, the consequences will be felt the world over. I strongly urge Australia to ban all shark fishing in the Great Barrier Reef. We only have one world, we must take care of it.

Please! Ban shark fishing, we need sharks in our ecosystems to make the world go round!

On land we have the police and military to guard and protect. But who protects and guards the oceans? Only those who care.

Ban ALL shark fishing immediately throughout the entire the Great Barrier Reef area--establish sustainable catch limits elsewhere that are based on sound research--vigorously enforce those policies.

This needs to stop. I am planning on dedicating my life to help stop this cruelty. This is what I plan to do. I am 15 years old and I love sharks more than anything else. I'm obsessed with them and Rob Stewart is my hero. Many of us need to be like him and help save the sharks.

I swim with sharks daily...

I boycott restaurants that present shark on the menu as a small step in the process. Currently residing in Tokyo and I am shocked how many restaurants that include shark, and whale also for that matter, on the menu.

If Ecuador and Costa Rica can ban shark fishing then so can we here in Oz and look at South Africa now famous for it's shark diving activities. It can be done!

Please do these things for the sharks: Ban ALL shark fishing immediately throughout the entire the Great Barrier Reef area. Establish sustainable catch limits elsewhere that are based on sound research. Vigorously enforce those policies.

More need to be demanded? I think not!

Killing animal is not part of humans program of living. We all pay for this distorted behavior of our relative human being. We never were intended to be predator of any animal. Not only the Bible support that point of view, but science does. The laws of nature, the laws of our Creator, are undeniably scripted in our veins, emotions and souls!

If I can help you , contact me......Good luck....

Sharks are severely endangered, with some populations down by up to 95% since the 1970's! A "license to kill" is therefore absolutely irresponsible, especially in the unique jewel of nature as which the Great Barrier Reef is worldwide known! Please stop this before it's too late to save many species of magnificent sharks.

Stop the Bloodshed!

Peter Garret - If you can stop a coal terminal at Shoalwaterbay that potentially has huge economic benefits, surely you can stop help stop shark fishing.

This is the lucky country - let's keep it that way for all living creatures great and small - wake up Australia and take ACTION!

Sharks shouldn't be hunted just for fins. It's sick. Just the fact this perfect predator is prey is a sign that our world is a screwed up place.

Protecting sharks and biodiversity in general is the only way to save the planet from eco-catastrophe!

Killing of these animals will result in the end of all things. They are too important to our ecology to be killed.

Considering what you have on the Great Barrier Reef, to allow shark fishing there disgusts me. These creatures are vital to the life of the reef, as well as being beautiful they should be left in peace.

PLEASE!!! We need your help.

Please, have compassion and use your position to stop this mass cruelty and devastation.

I know it will take time but we will make it...

Stop Shark Finning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I regret ever having eaten shark steak while on the beaches of Thailand. Sharkwater and the research I've done on my own after viewing the documentary have shown me that it's not just smoke and mirrors and that there is a real danger if sharks continue to decline in numbers and nothing is done about it, finning in particular.

Sharks play a key ecological role in our oceans. Without them the dynamic intricate web of life in the waters will be forever changed for the worse. Please act now to save them and the delicate balance of interactions between species of the sea.

This is a serious situation and will only lead to the regretful loss of our threatened marine life, in their own environment, if commercial business and governments are not policed.

What a hypocritical action for the Australian government to introduce shark finning. Greed, greed, greed, greed,at the expense of the environment, yet again.

STOP SHARK FISHING! We really can't afford to loose these beautiful animals.

It is appalling to think that what is supposed to be the most protected and revered under water sanctuary is being threatened by us. Everything must be done to protect it from us. Protect the sharks so they can survive another 400 million years, without us.

How are you going to educate people on which sharks have to be captured and the sharks which don't? I am sure they will know once the Australian govt tell them, maybe they have some sort of shark telepathy, pathetic, leave the sharks alone and make all of the Barrier a national park.

With so many types of sharks critically endangered by ruthless fishing practices, civilized people need to be responsible and put an end to exploitation. Please protect what few sharks are left in your waters. Thank you.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's most precious natural wonders. Sharks are key predators and are vital to keeping its ecosystem healthy, especially as the Reef is under stress from climate, pollution, and coral loss.

PLEASE HELP! WE NEED SHARKS TO BREATHE (70% of the oxygen we breathe is created from plankton sharks help nurture)!

What have sharks done to us? They don't deserve to die.

Please protect our threatened natural resources and preserve the world's wildlife through legislation of fishing practices.

All coral reefs must be declared as Protected Reserves until the sharks & other apex fishes undergo a dramatic recovery & coral bleaching is rectified.

Save the sharks - human are so stupid!!!!

Please, there is no time to waste. It is within our free will to maintain the planet for future generations and our own welfare.

Please use sustainable practices when harvesting sharks. Long lining hurts every part of the ecosystem, and will eventually hurt the fishing industry as well. This has already been experienced in Atlantic Canada, and they are still experiencing problems of over fishing. Thank You... and God Bless.

Sharks are needed in their ecosystem.

November 2007 to January 2008 (over two months) I traveled throughout Australia, including diving and snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. Already there is much evidence of reef destruction due to over-tourism and a lack of regulations and enforcement.

Stop fishing sharks, please.

Please ban shark fishing.

When the sharks are all gone, then what? You are hunting a majestic, viable part of the ecosystem for your own greed. Please reconsider. I would like to be able to show my kids and grandkids that sharks are still part of our earth in the future.

Before I saw the documentary S.O.S Sharks, I would never have thought that such things were possible. I was horrified and deeply shocked while watching the film and now I know. I am conscious of the slaughter being done to innocent sharks and I am willing to take action. I really support the fight against shark fishing.

C'est vraiment dgeulasse! Sa me revolte vraiment! Avant de voir le reportage je n'etais pas au courant de a... J'appuis vraiment les demarches entreprisent!

Governments around the world must take action on this urgent problem before it's too late! Save the sharks!!!

3750 Katja Foenss, London, London, UK
3749 David Dunstall, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
3748 Mari Claire Sturgeon, Ajax, Ontario, Canada
3747 Yi Carolyn Jiang, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Please stop the slaughter, and save the oceans.

3746 Sabrina Camarena, Marseille, France
3745 Preteseille Bertrand, La Rochelle, France
3744 Not publicly disclosed, Madrid, Spain
3743 Vanessa Reed, Wedel, Deutschland
3742 Not publicly disclosed, Lille, France
3741 Staci Tyrrell, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

I am horrified that this hasn't been done already. I have swam with these beautiful creatures and I can not believe anyone would want to hurt them!

3740 Emmanuelle Buono, Strasbourg, France
3739 Laura Tavenier, Chelsea, Quebec, Canada
3738 Moreau Audrey, Etterbeek, Belgique
3737 Nadasi Janos, Roedgen, Luxembourg

Save the sharks.

3736 Piron Ludovic, Laken, Bruxelles, Belgique
3735 Not publicly disclosed, Sunbury, Middlesex, UK
3734 Antoine Dassonval, Lillers, Nord pas de Calais, France
3733 Not publicly disclosed, Palmyra, WA, Australia
3732 Simon Meyer, Hastings, Victoria, Australia
3731 Poumarat Christophe, Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne, France
3730 Lydia Burkart, Geneva, Switzerland

I have loved sharks since I was a child. When I see a prosperous and developed country allowing any animal to be poached and slaughtered it really makes me despair. Maybe we can't stop ourselves from heading towards oblivion but to pillage and burn the rest of the worlds resources and creatures makes it all the more tragic.

3728 Dustin Lichtenwald, West Vancouver, BC, Canada
3727 Steven Lichtenwald, West Vancouver, BC, Canada
3726 Sherri Lichtenwald, West Vancouver, BC, Canada
3725 Brigette Paterson, Floreat, WA, Australia
3724 Ethan Retherford, Eureka, CA, USA

Stop killing sharks, mother says so!

3723 Jonine Lichtenwald, West Vancouver, BC, Canada
3722 Rebecca Huntley, Vancouver, BC, Canada
3721 Richard Devin, Caledon, Ontario, Canada

Stop the idiocy. NOW. Oh wait a minute..... sorry I forgot it's PEOPLE we're talking about changing..... Well... here's hoping....

3720 Declan Ferreira, Sydney, NSW, Australia

How can we allow this to happen in our Great Barrier Reef? That one area brings large amounts of money to Australia through tourism and you're destroying it!

3719 Tom Evelyn, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Save our sharks.

3718 Gavan Wise, Perth, WA, Australia
3717 Not publicly disclosed, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
3716 Emma Wheater, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK

STOP SHARK FISHING NOW!!!

3715 Victoria Guy, Proserpine, Queensland, Australia
3714 Allison Shurr, Austin, TX, USA
3713 Jordan Ollivier, Perth, WA, Australia

Why hasn't this been done sooner, shark fishing should have been made criminal decades ago, it's nothing but greedy stupidity that it still happens.

3712 Angelica Hjalmarsson, Perth, WA, Australia
3711 Not publicly disclosed, Kelowna, BC, Canada
3710 Nadine Wetzel, Perth, WA, Australia
3709 Hadeel Bilal, London, London, UK
3708 Carly Kaloustian, Revere, MA, USA

I have visited the Great Barrier Reef and it was one of the most important visits of my life. It changed the way I consider my life in relation to the natural world. I was horrified to find out that the reefs in Australia are so jeopardized by global warming and fishing. Please, do not allow shark fishing on the reef. Your country has an amazing treasure and resource that must be protected for the health of our world.

3707 Kim Reid, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the last great homes for so many living things. Just think, what if you child grows up without being able to see the beauty that you see when you look at even a short video of the beauty of this great place or anything in it. This will happen if we don't stop the fishing and/or fining of sharks there!

3706 Jennifer Burke, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
3705 Not publicly disclosed, Washington, DC, USA
3704 Barniaudy Mathieu, Marseille, BdR, France
3703 Alice Kim, South Pasadena, CA, USA
3702 Not publicly disclosed, Tigne, Alpes de Haute Provence, France
3701 Not publicly disclosed, Sete, Herault, France
3700 Craig Peters, Ajax, Ontario, Canada
3699 Kerry Kubota, Chandler, AZ, USA

As an Australian citizen..I am disgusted with the people responsible for allowing this travesty. Shame on you.

3698 Job Fabien, Paris, France

It's fundamental to protect sharks and to know them more. It's maybe an important resource of drugs. And sharks are the "stomach" of the sea like the forests are the lung of the earth.

3697 Elhacene Boussaid, Paris, France

Save sharks; it's save the humanity.

3696 Not publicly disclosed, Cancale, Bretagne, France
3695 Colin Maltman, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Adding to the global slaughter of such important marine species as sharks is not enlightened, sustainable, intelligent or representative of the public view. Please abandon this medieval plan.

3694 K McDaid, Perth, WA, Australia

Since watching the movie a couple of days ago, it is in my thoughts every minute. I am disappointed with the Australian government for being so ignorant, short-sighted and money-hungry. Australia is doing so much with Asia, especially with Tertiary Education and the Mining industry in WA, perhaps the government should encourage these companies to put pressure on their own cultures to make a change in beliefs! This is all classic Marketing. Educate the market on the stats that shark products will not improve health, also appeal to emotions with visuals of the shark finning process. Add a stigma to it that those consuming and supporting the shark fin trade are less than human, and incredibly selfish. The majority of the market should make a 180 turn and demand will be reduced dramatically. Supply will then dry up. Value of the product will be minimal. Quickly the market will find other products to sell with the same "health" benefits. And maybe then the shark population and the earth will be safe. Education is the key to success. Thank you, Rob for informing us of the issues!

3693 Christina Porter, Fitchburg, WI, USA

Without a healthy ecosystem in the Great Barrier Reef, I would not have any wish to visit Australia. I cannot believe that I am alone in this feeling. If it is indeed widespread enough then Australia will loose much revenue and suffer a decline in tourism. It will be a sad day for the entire world when a species as beautiful and perfect as the shark were allowed to be murdered on a widespread basis to extinction.

3692 Not publicly disclosed, Singapore
3691 Deanne Reinerth, Vancouver, BC, Canada
3690 Paul Pedrego, Tucson, AZ, USA
3689 Not publicly disclosed, San Francisco, CA, USA

Protecting sharks ensures that humans have a future here on the planet, too. We get 70 percent of the oxygen we breathe from the oceans. If we wipe out the ocean's top predator, we destroy the oceanic ecosystem and in turn destroy ourselves. Please work to protect the shark.

3688 Barrett Porter, West Hollywood, CA, USA
3687 Ann Young, Sandy, UT, USA
3686 Not publicly disclosed, Gravesend, Kent, England
3685 Priscilla Attia, Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, France

J'ai vue galement le film Sharkwater est cela ma profondment dgoute et horrifie, j'adore les requins et je maudis les asiatiques!!!

Ces une honte de laisser faire le massacre! Faut stopper tout a

A Government is to carry out the wishes of the people and the future generations to come. Become a Government which looks further into the future than the next election.

Il faut sauver lees requins! Cette animal et absolument superbe.

We must stop the restaurants from selling sharp fin soup. Must somehow figure a way to educate the Chinese that this is a ridiculous, and harmful delicacy.

Who are we to take the life's of these sharks. Were all out of control primates!

Your setting the world up for suicide!

Haven't they come to realize that sharks are being wiped out? Obviously they must know, and therefore are looking the other way which is despicable in itself. What happens when major predators such as sharks are gone? The whole ecosystem will suffer. Obviously Queensland needs some intelligent individuals who are willing to take appropriate action.

Save our sharks.

Moi quand je serai mageur, je ferais une associasion du nom de S.C.P.R. Jesper que ces pauvre animaux vont etre sauver.

Foutez leurs la paix.

There a plenty of food companies (mainly in Japan) who are currently researching possibility of creating synthetic shark fins (for soup) WHY don't you wait until this is on the market before you start destroying a highly evolved and NECESSARY species.... Please think about what you are doing.

I think it is cruel what people are doing to these beautiful animals. I cannot believe that the shark population has already declined by 90%. People are so cruel and their actions are run by the devil.

J'ai toujours aim les requins, mais je n'avais pas imaginer qu'un si grand nombres mourraient chaques anne. Il est tant de ragir ! !

I just watched the documentary "Sharkwater" last night. I was totally ignorant as to what has been happening to sharks in the world and I am absolutely disgusted that world governments who claim they care about our environment and then sit and do nothing and allow something like this to happen. I want to thank Rob Stewart and the rest of the makers of this documentary for raising awareness and risking their lives to try and stop this raping of our environment.

I hope more and more people realize the senselessness and the selfishness that drives this business and it becomes extinct, because theres always more ways to make money and only one way to increase shark populations.

Shark fishing is barbaric and unnecessary. It is irresponsible to allow it.

I always have know that shark finning has been going on for years. I never knew in the last 20 years 90% of the population of sharks has diminished I am disgusted that the Gov't can not realize that if We as Human beings continue to ignore all of these concerns and scientific evidence about shark finning that these sharks will be gone forever. Whats going to happen when the Sharks are all gone that the fish population with increase rapidly where in turn they will consume all the plankton available and leave the world with no Oxygen. This needs to stop. Why cant people in power understand we need to Value the life of all creatures just as much as a human being. Maybe we can learn from the Sharks and understand how they have been able to live for over 400 thousand years. And for all those uncaring and cruel people who fish the waters need a serious wake up call. It's pathetic how people do things under desperation just to make money. How much longer do we have to take and take and take from this beautiful world before we realize we are killing our planet. C'mon people we can do better than this. As of this day, I promise to promote awareness about Shark finning not only to the community I live in but to those around the world.

Stop!!!

Just stop killing shark, my children will thank you one day ...

This abhorrent practice must be stopped. It is not only wasteful, it guarantees the destruction of the Australian Reef ecosystem. Where will you be if you lose those tourism dollars ?

Sharks to me represent what Australia and the Great Barrier Reef are about. Wild, unchanged and natural.

Sharks have to be protected, I've dived with them and it's the defining moment of my life, they're amazing and need to be kept for future generations to enjoy. The impact on the oceans with the loss of these top predators will be catastrophic. Come on Australia! Its up to you to look after the Barrier Reef, its worth far more to you alive than dead. I've had the pleasure of diving both the Barrier and Osprey reef and its amazing, but the impact of pollution and shark fishing is visible for all to see. Please Please Please do something before its too late, I want my children and grand children to experience the awe of these amazing creatures in the natural habitat. Its our generation who are responsible and its up to us to do something.

We are messing around with mother nature and her dinosaurs, so I think we should take a step back and re-evaluate our place on earth.

I love animals and my group home and I are trying to help now. We want to help; we're going to get people to go on and help the sharks seals and whales.

Sharks deserve to live like humans.

Sharks should not be treated like this for their fins. The fisherman should know that not only are they killing sharks but they are also killing humans because the sharks eat the fish that eat the plankton that we need to survive with. If the fisherman continue there will be no more sharks to control the fish population so that means no more plankton.

Bravo pour le film; il faut dnoncer ces atrocits pour sauver notre plante et nous-mme. Stop la torture pour sauver notre plante et prserver l'avenir de nos enfants!

I am begging for you to understand the impact that this has not only on your wellbeing, but the future for our children. save these sharks.

Shark finning is appalling People need to be educated, so that this behavior will stop and sharks may be protected in the future.

I understand that fisherman want to make a living but when what you want to fish is becoming endangered obviously you cannot continue to fish it. What happens when the sharks are all gone? Pick another species and fish it to extinction? Where will that road end?

Stop killing sharks! People should think with their head instead of their purse!

Please help save the shark population and maintain the ecosystem of our oceans!

No more shark fishing for Australia; keep our country and oceans beautiful.

How can people in positions of authority turn a blind eye to the cruel and wasteful industry that shark finning is? It is up to you to STOP this now, not when it is too late.

Sharks deserve to live free and safe in our waters.

I don't understand how people that are still committing this monstrous and vile act of killing sharks have not learnt from the facts have come from shark research and finally stopped!

STOP ALL SHARK FISHING AND ILLEGAL SHARK FINNING! The whole life on earth is depending on those delicate balance. Severe those balance and how will your grandchildren lives?

Je viens juste de voir le film Sharkwater et celui ci m a vraiment touché, les asiatiques sont vraiments des personnes sans état d'ames! Pourquoi ne pas organiser des manifestation pour lutter contre ce fléau, dans toutes les capitales européennes, ceci aurait au moins pour but d'avertir l'opinion publique et peut etre que les personnes politiques bougeraient enfin un peu. C'est navrant de voir que personne ne fait rien a part Paul Watson et Rob Stewart qui s'investissent totalement dans un combat qui devrait tous nous conçerner.... Longue vie a la "SEA SHEPHERD" !!

I'm a 21 french diver. STOP THAT ALL!!!!!!!!!! Save the Sharks!

PLEASE protect our precious sharks, without them, we may not survive!

3586 Not publicly disclosed, Saint-Brieuc, Bretagne, France

For a government that claims to have environment on its agenda how can you/we approve of taking any fish species from a world heritage listed area?!!!!

I never had the opportunity to dive great barrier reef but I know if we cut of the top link of the chain whole chain is going to collapse. And it will affect us all in many ways

Are you kidding! Watch Sharkwater and get some perspective!

I hope it will make a difference to save sharks.

Please listen to our petition.

I think the sharks all deserve to be in a better place, than getting killed just for their fins and their teeth. The sharks don't mean to hurt anyone. [ Please help them! ]

I find it inconceivable to accept that the Australian government could allow fishing of sharks in the GBR. The Australian Government, through various bodies, supports marine research, including projects which highlight the importance of food chains and retaining balances in ecosystems. Why then are you being so hypocritical and allowing the fishing of an already threatened key predator? Do you not believe the science? The GBR should be protected, along with all other ecosystems.

I am very disgusted with shark finning.

I have read a National Geographic article that described Australia as being one of the first to conserve sections of ocean to give the ecosystem a chance to recover from overfishing and other human activity. I was very impressed by this, I am very disappointed that shark fishing is now being considered. I am hoping to visit Australia some day to see the marine life particularly the sharks. I hope that this will be preserved for myself and many others in the future.

Tchok dii ka for the shark.

Continuez la lutte, notre equilibre vital sur terre depend de votre action, pour nous et pour les generations futures.

Channel 10 just aired how greedy we have become along with the painful finning of an Australian shark by an Australian fisherman. You could see the agony thru the flickering of the sharks eye as it was finned. Please let the law at least make sure the creature is dead before such slaughter is preformed on it. I'm sure humans would be outraged if cutting of tongues from children alive would be apposed to so why is it ok to torture to our sea creatures in the name of Greed! Please help save our Oceans from the Greedy!

As an Australian citizen overseas, I'm extremely disappointed to see such a backward step by my home country. Shark fishing (and especially fining?) is a ridiculously wasteful and unnecessary industry. Please enact legislation to prevent shark fishing; not to protect and promote it????

I agree with all your fights, not only for human being but for planet Earth. I hope all children would preserve Earth.

I initially did not want to go and see a Documentary at the Movies but am so glad I did see 'Sharkwater'. My girlfriend has been educating me in regards to the importance of our Marine Environment and we are constantly picking up rubbish off the beach. After spending three weeks snorkeling in Fiji, I was disappointed with the lack of larger fish and sharks. The Great Barrier Reef is dying and we must act to protect all Species including our Sharks NOW. A huge public awareness Campaign regarding the image of Sharks must be launched.

Killing sharks must stop it's a sick thing to see. I don't care how much money the country would make. There is nothing right about killing sharks for fins.

Please take this request seriously. We only have one planet and one chance! Please let our planet and all its beautiful creatures live!

There is no place for such a barbaric trade anywhere in the world in the 21st century, let alone Australia and the protected great barrier reef. We all need to be more compassionate and respect all life!

You must protect sharks! NOW!

Sharkwater should be compulsory viewing for all Schools and Fishermen alike. It is high time we learn to respect and appreciate Mother Earth and all living organisms present on planet Earth. If we don't put an end to this selfish Shark killing practice NOW, we won't have anything left for Future Generations to enjoy. Everyone NEEDS to wake up NOW. Bravo to all dedicated Ocean Lovers.

We need Sharks and need to do everything we can to protect them (even sinking fishing ships if they don't stop).

As a scuba diver I am very interested in coming to Australia. But if sharks are not there to be seen and if there is no ecotourism in place I am not interested in coming.

What is wrong with you people, why can't you understand that civilization as a whole depends upon the ocean being healthy...do your homework...please for the sake of all of our children.

We must conserve and protect these amazing creatures.

When are we going to face the facts that sharks all over the world are being wiped out...When are we going to take action against this crime against nature...Take a stand and stop the slaughter.

I saw Sharkwater last night and I was horrified. I want to help make a difference to what is happening. Hopefully I can as a current honours student in zoology. I've been to the GBR and have swam with sharks. They are majestic animals who deserve respect and life.

I am strongly opposed to the fishing of sharks in any way. Our ecosystem depends on the sustainment of these ancient creatures.

I've seen Sharkwater and I was appalled and disturbed to see the vast size of the shark fin industry and the pigheadedness towards the declining shark population. I will be ashamed to call myself Australian if this goes ahead in Australia on whatever scale.

Its absolutely appalling what is happening to sharks all over the world. The Australian government should not be encouraging this vicious industry and will only have itself to blame when we lose our beautiful marine life.

We have the ability to take action in our own waters. As a people, doing nothing to help sustain the wildlife in the oceans is as much a crime as allowing fining to continue.

I am truly disgusted with these groups of people involved in killing such amazing marine species. I cannot believe that our world can stand back and accept such barbaric brutality on such wonderful marine life! This needs to end, and the world need to open their eyes and look at what humanity is doing to these animals around us. We need to live in harmony with nature. This is completely unethical and immoral. The consequences of such evil will inevitably have a dramatic affect on the future of our unique planet and our future generations! Its time to put an end to this!

Shark finning is not only cruel but sharks are very important for the ecosystem,the oceans depend on them, and the planet depends on the oceans.

3504 Not publicly disclosed, Coventry, RI, USA
3503 Cecilia Patrice, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi! I'm French and I saw Rob Stewart's great movie about sharks protection and I'd like to thank people like Rob Stewart and Paul Watson who are involved in such a struggle, I'd like to thank you for acting because people like me can't have such a big impact as you can have. Then I hope men will soon realize how dangerous they are for themselves! How can the most intelligent animal on earth (the human kind) be so stupid, and provoke its own destruction and that of the whole world! I'm so disappointed! It is really hard to cope with this idea that we are about to kill ourselves and that we are aware of it!! So please everybody do the best you can to make people aware that we NEED sharks! Love

3502 Amanda Looi, Point Cook, Victoria, Australia

I am sick of 'economics' dictating both our now excessive lifestyles in the developed world and values as opposed to living a happy, balanced, healthy life in touch with our natural environment. We should be smarter than this. Our chase for economic growth and greed will be to the ruin of all. Good luck to future generations.

After viewing a film on the brutal ongoing slaughter of sharks merely for their fins, I am disgusted at the lack of enforcement or legislature against this. We are risking destroying ecosystems, including our own, over something ridiculous.....a bowl of soup!!!! Tomatoes are good for you as well....open a damn can of soup! The sharks don't stand a chance against a couple billion of foolish Asians. And these people are supposed to be full of culture/honour/tradition?? Making or purchasing this soup should illegal internationally. Maybe the punishment should be the removal of the ears....or worse.

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