Give the Hook to the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament

[Omaha Steve]

Give the Hook to the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament

The gory public spectacle of the annual Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament on Martha's Vineyard is more than just cruel—it threatens the very sustainability of shark populations.

Mass shark killing contests are environmentally irresponsible. A 2003 study showed that all recorded shark species, with the exception of makos, have fallen by more than 50% in the last 8 to 15 years.

Martha's Vineyard is leader for environmental conservation, but the Monster Shark Tournament undermines the community values and deals a fatal blow to sharks.

After last year's Monster Shark Tournament, in which approximately 2,500 sharks were hooked, The Humane Society of the United States called on Oak Bluffs to end the killing contest, but the town refused. The next tournament is scheduled to begin July 20—so it's not too late to stop it.

Take Action:

Please contact the members of the Oak Bluffs Board of Selectmen and the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce to tell them that Martha's Vineyard should be renowned for its natural beauty, not the man-made ugliness of the Oak Bluffs Shark Tournament.

1. Make a brief, polite call to one or more of following, voicing your opposition to the Monster Shark Tournament:

Oak Bluffs Board of Selectmen: Gregory Coogan (508-693-1715) and Kerry Scott (508-696-7100). You can also call the Oak Bluffs Board of Selectmen's Office administrator, Alice Butler, at 508-693-3554.

Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce: Gary Cogley, 1-800-505-4815.

2. After you make your calls, please take a moment to send an e-mail to the Oak Bluffs Selectmen and Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce by filling out the form to the right. Remember that your communications are always more effective if you express your opinion in your own words.

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/oak_bluffs_shark_contest_06?rk=ZpzeEQn12XENE