I, like the majority of dive junkies, love seeing/filming/photographing sharks.  Simple.  They are incredible creatures and deserve better from us...the worlds apex predator.  I find it hard to quantify Discovery Channel's "Shark Week".  What exactly are they trying to achieve?  Well, I think I have an answer: High viewing figures, end of story!  I know this isn't a new story or one that hasn't been highlighted before but I feel they are being let off the hook way way to easy.

Last week saw the latest "Shark Week" season and just out of interest I tuned into a few programmes to sea what was what, had they learned from previous critisism's or would they sacrifice even further the sharks' reputation and keep them firmly on the road to extinction?  Sadly, the latter was true.  Shark Week is all about cheap thrills and using the "Jaws" factor to win viewers.  I didn't see one, NOT ONE, single programme dedicated to shark conservation.  Maybe I missed it?  Probably not though.  Even the promo clips shown to advertise upcoming shows for the week use the "Jaws" factor to draw people in to watching this drivel.  How many of those who tuned in are now of the mind that sharks need our help fast?  Very Very few I bet.  Most will be out there spreading the word that sharks are bad and therefore perpetuating the myth further.

Instead of churning out blood soaked programming all about the extreme slightest remotest teeny weeny chance you'll be attacked by a shark, why cant Discovery Channel throw in a couple of "factual" programmes aimed at educating those that are either naive, ill informed, un-educated on the subject or simply stupid?  Do they not realise that they are in the prime position, as a leading TV channel, to bring about change?  Could "Shark Week" not be put to better use by showing sharks for the truely amazing and important creatures they really are?  Is it beyond the great minds(?) at Discovery HQ that they could place themselves front and centre on shark conservation and really start to make a difference.  Do they not imagine that by being largely responsible for slamming this message home they could achieve greater viewing figures?  Or am I full of BS?

I look forward to the day when Shark Week contains accurate programming depicting the plight of sharks and their very precarious position on this ocean planet.  Thats right folks, in case you forgot, we live on a world that is almost two thirds ocean, I for one think its about time we (as a whole) started to give a crap about that two thirds/seven tenths/70%.  BUT, hey, last time I checked we weren't doing such a great job with the otherone third/three tenths/30%, so what chance do fish have!