Humana wants you to eat a nice healthy... shark steak

Today, I am embarrassed to call myself a Chicagoan.

Just when you thought people were catching on to the issues with with eating tuna, shark, and other large predatory fish, we were shocked to learn that a supposed leader in health care known for enabling people to make well-informed decisions regarding their health and healthy lifestyles is recommending the consumption of shark – in a very public format. Yes, you heard that right. Humana - a HEALTH CARE organization - has decided to promote shark meat as one of the "healthier choice" entrees featured at the Taste of Chicago festival. The dish, Shark Vera Cruz, is being served by Polo Café, and owner Dave Samber, to the millions of individuals attending the two-week festival who may choose to take Humana up on their incredibly irresponsible and erroneous recommendation.


Humana has effectively provided a seal of approval for a “dish” that carries warnings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Environmental Defense Fund, Seafood Watch, and the New York Department of Health, to name but a few highly respected organizations. I guess Humana is saying you can cut the calories and pile on the Mercury? Don't tell anyone in Minamata, Japan - a local population that suffered one of the world's worst mercury poisoning in history. They know first hand the serious issues associated with mercury poisoning including birth defects, brain damage and neural diseases.

Indeed, there is much research and publicly available data regarding the serious issues associated with consumption of shark meat due to the health risks posed by the high levels of mercury and other contaminants found in the shark’s flesh. Mercury that is known to cause significant health issues for pregnant women and children. Humana, what were you thinking?

In addition to the risks posed by consuming sharks personally, it is hard to believe they can ignore the significant health risks posed to our planet. Sharks around the world are threatened with extinction due to overfishing. Studies out this week indicate conservatively that a 1/3 of shark species are threatened with extinction. With populations of many shark species down by as much as 90%, this news couldn’t have come at a worse time. Humana, what were you thinking?

How can Humana, a supposed environmental leader, not realize as the apex predators of the oceans, the role of sharks is to keep other marine life in healthy balance and to regulate the world’s largest and most important ecosystem? Instead, they are supporting the continued consumption and removal of sharks from the very environment upon which we depend – wreaking havoc on our planet. Those of us who read are well aware that regional elimination of sharks can cause disastrous effects including the collapse of fisheries and the death of coral reefs. Humana, what were you thinking?


We notified Humana five days ago and made them aware of the situation. Educated and enlightened, we hoped Humana would immediately rescind its recommendation and more importantly issue a retracting statement to all media outlets the recommendations were promoted to (which sadly are quite extensive). The damage that has been done needs to be undone. Additionally, we expected that the recommendation should be withdrawn from the literature at the Taste of Chicago booth, and instead, women and children should be properly warned about the dangers of consuming sharks – consistent with the recommendations of the EPA and the FDA.

Please appeal to Humana, the City of Chicago, and Polo Café, as we have, to stop supporting tthe consumption of shark meat: for our, and our planet's, health. And please copy all of the media outlets that have carried the story. You can make phone calls or send emails to the following individuals:

Polo Café:
Dave Samber - Owner
+1 (773) 927-POLO
Email: dave@polocafe.com
www.polocafe.com

Humana:
Jim Turner - Manager, Corporate Media Relations
+1 (502) 476-2119
jturner2@humana.com
www.humana.com

City of Chicago, Mayor's Office of Special Events (MOSE)
Megan McDonald, Executive Director
Mayor's Office of Special Events
121 N. LaSalle Street, Room 806
Chicago, IL 60602
312-744-2493

Dolphins in… Chicago?

I know it seems this way, but I don’t just love sharks. I cherish all creatures that live in water – after all it all started for me in the lakes and streams of Wisconsin with turtles, salamanders, frogs and blue gills.

I have run into some pretty strange animals and fish in some pretty strange places. But, who would have guessed I would meet a pod of Dolphins in Chicago of all places?


I have always loved dolphins. And this month on the Underwater Channel, I got another good dose of these charismatic mammals. After swimming with the Indian Ocean version of Common Bottlenose dolphins in Aliwal, I was able to reconnect with some friends in the states to examine a real controversy: marine animals in captivity.

It was a bi-coastal episode, as I headed to Brookfield Zoo, one of the nation’s oldest Oceanariums to learn more about their dolphins and their research program. Then, I headed to Sarasota to meet with Dr. Randall Wells, who is leading the world’s longest dolphin research program – now in its 38th year.

I grew up in Chicago, coming to Brookfield Zoo, one of the nation’s largest and oldest zoos. And, while I loved all the animals big and small, the dolphins were my favorite. (Please don’t tell the sharks.)

But, I have always been torn on animals in captivity – especially large marine apex predators like dolphins, whales, turtles, sharks, and rays. I love seeing them in their own environment and wish they could all be free in the oceans. Unfortunately, people only care about what they see and experience – and most people do not see what dwells within our seas. Out of site out of mind. So, for the educational and awareness purposes, I support their captivity as long as it is responsible, the animals are well cared for and not at risk, and it is for purpose.

Having certain animals in captivity as long as they can remain healthy (I am in strong opposition to keeping animals like whale sharks or white sharks) provides the public with the ability to experience the sea. Having dolphins in places like Brookfield allows people who would not otherwise have an opportunity to do so, to learn more about these incredible creatures, gain an appreciation for them, and hopefully, make a few more people want to do something to ensure these amazing animals survive.

Sadly, while dolphins were protected in 1972 by the marine mammal laws here in the US, and throughout the world, they are still threatened. Many die each year as unintentional bycatch, from habitat destruction, from pollution, from interaction with fisherman and fishing gear, and also from human interactions.

2 million people visit these dolphins each year. They are definitely the ambassadors for ocean conservation here at the zoo, and worldwide.


At the zoo, I caught up with the lead curator of the dolphin exhibit as well as my friend Dr. Stuart Strahl, the CEO of the zoo. We had long discussions about the approach to captivity as well as the critical role they play in research as well, furthering my knowledge on the subject. And, I got a behind the scenes tour which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Here are a few myths that were quickly shattered:

Zoos and aquariums capture dolphins from the wild. FALSE. All of the dolphins at Brookfield have been raised in captivity. In fact, they are leading an 8 institution consortium managing the breeding to ensure all dolphins in captivity are bred in captivity – while maintaining strong genetic histories.

There is no benefit to having dolphins in captivity. FALSE. The studies and work undertaken by trainers and researchers in zoos and aquariums and by scientists in the wild feed one another can be tied directly to the conservation of wild marine mammals. The dolphins at Brookfield Zoo serve as a baseline, controlled population that the dolphins in the wild can be compared against.

Dolphin shows are just circus acts. FALSE. The responsible zoos and aquariums teach dolphins behaviors and actions to help with their care – and keep them busy. Dolphins love to learn and desire constant stimulation. And, Brookfield does not support the rogue efforts to capture dolphins to allow the public to swim with them.


After visiting Brookfield, I headed down to Sarasota and Mote to meet with Dr. Randall Wells and learn more about the common bottlenose dolphin and the last few years of his research.

You see, my attachment to dolphins grew even stronger when, a few years ago, I participated in a study with Dr. Randall Wells in the field on the longest running dolphin research study in history. Going on its 38th year, the program has studied four generation of dolphins in Sarasota Bay. As part of Dr. Wells' team, I assisted in the collection of samples from wild dolphins. It was amazing to see Dr. Wells team in action. We literally captured wild dolphins and then quickly and with very little impact were able to perform the necessary tests

A collaborative effort between the Chicago Zoological Society (Brookfield Zoo) and Mote Marine Laboratory, the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program allows Dr. Wells and his staff – including volunteer interns to study the biology, behavior, health, physiology, and ecology of bottlenose dolphins, as well as human impacts on them.

And it is no small task. They have documented the movements of more than 120 dolphins in a 40-square-mile area of Sarasota Bay. They have discovered the social organization of dolphin groups based on sex, age, and reproductive condition and have been able to establish family trees through observations and blood analysis of these dolphins.

Field research in Sarasota Bay, Florida, and other locations, has offered a substantial body of information to those who protect dolphins in the wild and care for them in zoos and aquariums.

The common bottlenose dolphins of Sarasota Bay have adapted to sharing their waters with other boaters, fisherman and jet skiers. It is amazing to see them appear in the Bay as you are coming and going, just enjoying the beautiful water – or trying to get a free meal.

I love seeing the dolphins when I am Florida and know that their presence here in Sarasota Bay is leading to better knowledge, understanding and conservation of dolphins throughout the world – in large part due to Dr. Wells and the Brookfield Zoological Society. And that the dolphins in captivity in Chicago are playing a very critical role in that as well.

Back in the US

After over four and a half months in Africa, it was finally time to go home for a quick visit to see loved ones, reconnect with the Shark Savers in NYC, go to Dema and film a few episodes for the Underwater Channel.

Funny, coming back to the US, I thought I was eager to get back but instead I instantly realized how out of place I feel. My life and work as a conservationist in South Africa has transformed me a bit, and for the first time, I think I realized how much my perceptions have shifted. I think I feel more at home in South Africa now – in a far less materialistic world that is so much closer to the realm within which I need to focus. What is important to me now is so different to what drove me in the past and being back I instantly felt awkward. The masses of people, the consumerism and the rat race (for what end goal?) alienated me completely. As soon as I arrived, I wanted to leave, get my hands dirty (or at least wet) and return back to being on the front lines of shark conservation…


But, what I thoroughly enjoyed (in addition to seeing my family and my puppy who I miss dearly) was bringing Paul to the US. Here is a kid who grew up in the bush – the tallest building he had ever seen was ten stories. America, to him, was the random television show or movie he had watched growing up. A-team, Nightrider and CSI cheesy violence combined with the best the eighties and Eddie Murphy had to offer: Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America.

And, bam, I drop him into the middle of New York City, Chicago, Las Vegas and Orlando. Complete culture shock. He steps off the plane and I throw him on a subway bound for the financial district in Manhattan. His eyes were saucers the entire trip – and I am not sure he relaxed until we got to the sanctity and slow place that is Florida.


The things that he was desperate to experience were amusingly endearing as well as obscure. Halloween, hot dogs, Mexican food, the subway, anyplace that was used as a location for a scene in a TV show or a movie for the past 20 years, taxis, wireless Internet, vintage cars, soft serve ice cream, political commercials/election drama, raccoons, Captain Crunch… the list goes on and on. Things I have taken for granted most of my life.

(Paul's first hot dog.)

(Paul's first authentic Mexican food.)

I left with an appreciation for all I had growing up, the formulative experiences that made me who I am, and most importantly a renewed enthusiasm for the decision I made to become, what I suppose some might call and environmental vigilante. Or at least a crazy shark nut.