Cristina Zenato

Cristina Zenato Instagram – “Don’t see the point of removing them if they fall naturally/dissolve” is one of the most recent comments in the video of me removing hooks from sharks.
Here are a few thoughts we should consider before expressing our complete lack of expertise and showing an equal lack of empathy:
1.Hooks don’t rust as easily as people make us believe. Videos of people putting hooks in salt water and then taking them out of the water to show the rusting effect fail to explain the oxidation process caused by the oxygen in the air. And even if some hooks eventually rust, they will take a long time. We had a tiger shark who had a hook in her mouth for eight years before it started to deteriorate.
2. Many hooks are made of stainless steel; they do not rust. Period
3. I have seen sharks with hooks slamming into the sand, trying to dislodge them over and over again (see video). I watched them taking off as fast as they could, twitching their fins, and becoming infected in the areas where the hooks were lodged and where the trail lines were rubbing. I see the discomfort left behind by hooks daily.
4. Sharks feel pain. It might not be a pain as we define it, but they feel the disturbance of these hooks, lines, and infections.
5. Empathy and action can make a significant difference. If we can help another being feel better, why not? There’s nothing negative about trying to help a different species affected by our actions. Empathy is a fundamental part of being human. I have the tools (chainsuit), the knowledge, and the capability to help sharks. It may not help all the sharks in the world, but the 360 hooks removed to date are a testament to this.
6. These sharks and the hooks I removed are ambassadors for many other sharks. By sharing their stories, we can inspire others to change their ways and mitigate their impact on the ocean. Each one of us has the power to advocate for change.
Video by @kewinlorenzen with @isotta_underwater_housings @neptunic_com @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater @scubapro | Posted on 19/Aug/2024 19:38:02