PETA Plans to Use Billboards and Bus Benches to Feature Shark Attack Ads
PETA's advertising campaign is based on weekend shark attack in which man was severely injured.
A man who was reportedly bitten by a 9-foot bull shark while fishing off of the coast of Anna Maria Island on Saturday is now the target of a vicious outdoor advertising campaign on bus benches and billboards in and around Manatee County.
As the friends who helped save his life were interviewed on national television and C.J. Wickersham was recovering after getting 700 to 800 stitches in his leg at Bayfront Medical Center, PETA was completing the design of its anti-fishing campaign featuring a shark swimming with a bloody human leg in its mouth.
Officials with PETA said the campaign was prompted by reports that Wickersham was bitten by a shark while spearfishing in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Anna Maria Island. The message behind the outdoor advertising campaign is meant to be that the deadliest killers in the water aren't sharks — they're humans.
The ad shows what PETA describes as "a human drumstick" hanging out of a shark's mouth next to the words "Payback Is Hell. Go Vegan."
While the billboards may be in poor taste, there is nothing in county ordinances to prevent the outdoor ad campaign from coming to Bradenton, said County Commissioner Carol Whitmore.
"It's all free speech," she said.
So far a lack of outdoor advertising space is keeping the campaign off of the Island, but PETA officials are looking for highly visible billboards in Bradenton and throughout Manatee County, said Ashley Byrne, manager of campaigns for PETA.
While PETA would not answer questions about whether the ad was in poor taste, the organization said the timing is critical. PETA wants people who come to the Gulf Coast to fish that they are participating in a harmful sport.
"In spite of the image, the message is that sharks are not the most dangerous predator, humans are," Byrne said. "Humans kill over 12 billion fish. Hopefully because of message, will be seen as a way to encourage people to take up pasttimes that are more positive and kind to anumals. And also safer."
Fish are aware of their surroundings, have complex nervous systems, and feel pain, Byrne said. Sport fishers impale the animals with spears and metal hooks and drag them out of their natural environment as, thrashing and struggling for their lives, they slowly suffocate or die from their injuries.
"Humans hook, spear, maim, and kill fish for 'sport' every day," PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said. "The most dangerous predator of all is the one holding the fishing rod or standing at the 'all you can eat' seafood buffet."
As the organization builds on its anti-fishing mission with campaigns like "Don't Let Kids Become Hookers" someone, over the weekend, dumped dead fish and crabs outside its Norfolk, Va. headquarters and smeared fish guts on the building’s windows and doors.
B. M.
8:10 am on Wednesday, September 28, 2011
This is not fair to the businesses that promote aquatic activities. It is a scare tactic alright but I feel it is definitely putting the wrong message out there. It is most likely going to encourage Shark Fishing Trips! That is a main reason people don't have a problem fishing for shark. I have worked around the water for many years and there is always people defending Shark fishing by this exact point! Poor marketing tactic.
Mike Zampello
9:26 am on Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Everything about PETA is offensive.
bill franzen
10:56 am on Wednesday, September 28, 2011
hey peta, vegetables are living things too, you bleeping idiots
bill franzen
10:58 am on Wednesday, September 28, 2011
i,m glad someone dumped fish guts on your head quarters, they should have dumped you in shark infested waters so you can "feed" them. bleeping idiots
bill franzen
11:00 am on Wednesday, September 28, 2011
hey peta, yesterday i swatted four mosquitos and two hundered sand gnats. did i break your stupid laws? you bleeping idiots
Kate Goodson
12:45 pm on Wednesday, September 28, 2011
What The Hell?? As a shark conservationist and scuba diver I heavily disapprove of this campaign!!
bill franzen
4:19 pm on Wednesday, September 28, 2011
kate, these people think they are saving the world, but they are only self rightous people that eat the same food, drive the same cars and flush the same toilets as everyone else. they are like politicians, anything for headlines.
Kathy Copple
11:05 am on Thursday, September 29, 2011
How is a shark with a human leg in its mouth going to convey the message that humans are the top predator?! I guess PETA care about all non-human animals except for sharks because this is going to cause more harm to sharks than to fishermen. Bleeping idiots!
bill franzen
11:24 am on Thursday, September 29, 2011
hey peta, i don't think the people here like you. bleeping idiots
Sharon
2:34 pm on Friday, September 30, 2011
WOW..... Maybe PETA should start loving their fellow mammals (humans) more than their beloved veges... Would be a nicer world. Besides... I like tofu noodles with my amberjack steak.
bill franzen
4:58 pm on Friday, September 30, 2011
peta = Pretty Extreme Total Assholes. sorry bout the language folks, but you get my drift
Kate Goodson
5:18 pm on Friday, September 30, 2011
In the sailing community we use the word "asshat" in mixed company.
Mike Zampello
9:56 pm on Friday, September 30, 2011
People Eating Tasty Animals!
I also call my child PITA. Pain In The Ass! (Sorry about the unrelated subject matter, now back to the animals...)
What sound does a fish make? *sizzle*sizzle*sizzle* Yum!
Michelle Castillo
8:06 pm on Friday, September 30, 2011
hahahahahaha!
sngrmnsthsm
4:34 am on Saturday, October 1, 2011
~Shame On You PETA!!!! Seriously, what dimwit thought this would be a good idea for saving sharks?! How incredibly ignorant of you!! All this does is perpetuate the false myth that sharks are mindless killing machines who should be feared instead of protected, thanks to movies like jaws (which they of course aren't) and it does absolutely nothing to promote the conservation of sharks. This senseless ad also claims that people deserve to be bitten by sharks. :| PETA needs to hear from all of us about this irresponsible ad campaign and they should remove these stupid ads immediately!
~PETA you are doing an incredible disservice to sharks and unfortunately with this foolish ad campaign you are undoing years of work that so many of us in the shark conservation community have been working so hard to do, which is change the public's view of sharks to love sharks, not fear them. I used to support your animal rights causes but because of this I no longer support you and I am not alone. We will support you when you come to your senses and remove these ads asap. Thank You. For The Sharks For The Oceans For The Future! ~ >~xo:] ~ >><> ~
Kevin
9:18 am on Friday, October 7, 2011
Completely irresponsible PETA! Lets send us back to the shark scare hysteria of years ago and see how many more sharks are killed. My son (sharkboyhunter.com) and I are the ones that catch sharks from a kayak and he would cry if we killed a shark. Do your research an choose your battles wisely. This one is idiotic. Expect a backlash because all this will do is make MORE people scared of sharks. That's not what we need for conservation methods.