Shark fishing contest under fire

OAK BLUFFS, Mass., July 16 (UPI) -- Animal rights activists are protesting a Massachusetts shark fishing contest, saying the event results in "destructive exploitation" of animals.

The Humane Society and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals wrote a letter to Boston Big Game Fishing Club President Steven James, asking him to cancel the 22nd Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament, The Boston Herald reported Wednesday.

The tournament is set to begin Thursday, the newspaper said.

"These are just cash-driven tournaments resulting in the destructive exploitation of these sharks," said John Grandy, of the Humane Society of the United States.

"We ask that the HSUS please leave the science of fishery management to the experts and scientists ... who are specifically chartered with managing and rebuilding the North Western Atlantic shark stocks," James responded.

James added that U.S. recreational and commercial fishermen should not be blamed "for the overfishing done in other parts of the world."