Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

jfz9580m

(15,542 posts)
Fri Nov 3, 2023, 01:15 AM Nov 2023

World Basking Shark Day!

Last edited Fri Nov 3, 2023, 02:01 AM - Edit history (4)

Since DU is the closest thing to social media I have, here goes (I doubt the three paras rule applies here since these guys want the word spread):

https://baskingsharkscotland.co.uk/basking-sharks/world-basking-shark-day

World Basking Shark Day

Join us to celebrate world basking shark day on the 3rd November each year. Share information, facts, pictures, videos, science and experiences with the world's 2nd largest endangered fish.

What is it about?

There are lots of 'days' now celebrated online, including world shark day or even international whale shark day. We thought it was about time the basking shark had it's own day and so we came up with an idea to start one. The basking shark is classified as endangered and after a period of intensive hunting in the last century are struggling to recover. They are threatened by a variety of things including changes to their food source through increasing sea temperatures and climate change. However their last stronghold is the North East Atlantic where we have the world's first marine protected area (MPA) for them in Scotland. We've spent the last 10 years studying them and leading tourism excursions to observe them in the wilds of the Hebrides. Now join us to celebrate them as a species, educate more people on how amazing they are along with raising awareness about their struggle to recover from exploitation.

When is it?

3rd November any time during your time zone.

How can I join in?

Post about basking sharks on any social media platform and accompany your post with the #worldbaskingsharkday. Otherwise you could make web pages, or even do some kind of craft or fun event. Unfortunately most of the basking shark will have migrated south and offshore in the NE Atlantic so your chances of seeing a basking shark on world basking shark day is pretty slim!



Eek..their predators?/parasites? Lampreys look pretty bizarre:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamprey

Well in some instances they seem to have had a day of their own anyway ;-/:

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/national_invasive_species_awareness_week_sea_lamprey


Of course here as usual lies the real problem:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basking_shark

The basking shark has long been a commercially important fish as a source of food, shark fin, animal feed, and shark liver oil. Overexploitation has reduced its populations to the point where some have disappeared and others need protection.


We seem to generally be driving damn near everything to extinction (except factory farmed animals).
3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
World Basking Shark Day! (Original Post) jfz9580m Nov 2023 OP
K&R and thanks for posting! Rhiannon12866 Nov 2023 #1
Thanks jfz9580m Nov 2023 #2
Well, that was an excellent reminder - which even those of here can use Rhiannon12866 Nov 2023 #3

Rhiannon12866

(223,302 posts)
1. K&R and thanks for posting!
Fri Nov 3, 2023, 03:31 AM
Nov 2023

And I sure agree! There is no excuse in this day and age for our precious wildlife to become extinct!

jfz9580m

(15,542 posts)
2. Thanks
Fri Nov 3, 2023, 05:19 AM
Nov 2023

I forward these to keep the steady drumbeat of “doom and gloom” going to remind anyone who sees it of our ecological crises..DU is not really the target audience since people here tend to be aware of these things. But I figure that of the trolls reading the site, maybe one or two will have a change of heart and care about these things .

If you have ever seen “I heart Huckabee’s” you may remember the scene where he is telling a bunch of construction workers about the environment and 3 of the 4 guys throw their sandwiches at him. But the fourth guy is all convinced and concerned..such is the life of a green…That was a good movie..

(I am supposed to be offline working but I wander over here whenever I get stuck which is often :-0..and then I spread a little “cheer” .)

Rhiannon12866

(223,302 posts)
3. Well, that was an excellent reminder - which even those of here can use
Fri Nov 3, 2023, 05:30 AM
Nov 2023

It's heartbreaking - and inexcusable - that any species can become extinct with the knowledge and expertise we have these days. Ee really need to wake up about what we are doing to the environment. I often wonder how different things would be if only Al Gore had taken office!

And I think about my grandmother who was a teacher - she said that females didn't have the options that they have now when she was young. And she said that if she was starting out now that she'd choose to be an environmentalist - and that stuck with me.

Hope that you get unstuck soon!

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»World Basking Shark Day!