“Yes…this is the show you have read about and seen on tv.”

Oh my goodness.

On our first run up the east coast, Mike and I went as far as Hervey Bay. We weren’t able to stay long because we were called back to Newcastle, but before we left we checked out the Shark Show.

How could we not? I mean, check this place out.

The vicious depictions of sharks on the outside should have given me a clue as to the perspective of the exhibition…but I was still a little surprised when I entered. The “museum” is dedicated to the “work” of Vic Hislop, a well known shark hunter in the region.

Basically, he has amassed newspaper clippings, home videos, and random bits of sharks or other animals for display.  All of this is with the aim of convincing you that sharks are mean monsters that desperately need to be hunted.

The tone of the place was a mix of hyperbole and fear mongering. Here are a few quotes from the pamphlet to give you an idea:

The highlight of the museum is the frozen sharks. I’m not lying. There’s what looks like a giant ice cream truck filled with frozen sharks. The only frozen sharks on display in the world. Kind of weird.

To be honest, the whole place was a bit comical to me. I’m not saying that all of his claims were false, but it felt like he was just gathering up facts to justify his desire to kill sharks. Naturally, scientists are wrong, he’s right. He did make the point that one reason sharks attack humans or other gentle prey (whales, dugongs, etc.) is because their original food stocks have been overfished, leaving the sharks to look for food elsewhere. That’s true. But perhaps instead of murdering sharks we should consider NOT depleting the world’s fisheries? Just a suggestion.

xo, jill