Sharks Through a Different Lens

The remarkable Nigel Barker is exhibiting his photographs of seals this week at a studio in New York. But his compassion for animals extends to all animals, including sharks, and he's a man willing to confront cruelty wherever it occurs.

Last weekend, Nigel Barker joined some HSUS staff in Martha’s Vineyard, but he was not on holiday.

© Nigel Barker
Nigel speaks with passersby.

Nigel made the trip to photograph the island’s annual Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament and to help spread the message that these tournaments are cruel and unsustainable. Nigel went down on the docks to record the gruesome weigh-ins and the fate the sharks endure in the name of big prizes and public revelry (see his photos).

We are turning around local perceptions of these spectacles. Now the next step is to end this cash-driven recreational shark killing, in Martha’s Vineyard and in other coastal communities where these killing sprees masquerade as family fun.

At the tournament the island’s Plum TV sat down with Nigel and Dr. John Grandy, our senior vice president of Wildlife. The interview provides an in-depth treatment of the issues and I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch it. As Nigel says in the piece, the suffering, death and dismemberment at these tournaments is “something we should be embarrassed about, not something we should be celebrating.”

Nigel’s incredible harp seal photos will go on display Friday and the exhibit has already created quite the buzz.