Letter: Shark death should have been obituary

Dear Editor:

Given the desperate plight of sharks worldwide, the story of the Florida man who recently killed a "record-breaking" hammerhead should have run on the obituary page.

Hammerheads are fascinating and complex animals. They are one of the most highly evolved types of shark. The wide separation of the eyes gives superior vision, and the frontal lobe between their eyes is spanned by sensory organs that detect changes in pressure and electrical fields.

There are few "sporting" events more blatantly testosterone-driven than trawling for sharks.

Those who catch these animals take unabashed pride in the perceived bravery it takes to bait a hook and fake out a fish. Readers who think these amazing animals should be protected instead of persecuted should visit www.FishingHurts.com.

— Jennifer O'Connor / People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)