Click image to enlarge. © 2008 Jim Toomey.
On Sunday, April 20, 2008, Newspapers Around the Nation Carried this Special Edition of “Sherman’s Lagoon” by Jim Toomey

Cartoonist and devout conservationist, Jim Toomey, has dedicated his April 20 “Sherman’s Lagoon” comic strip to protecting sharks. His regular strip has delighted millions, featuring the antics of a variety of sea creatures, especially sharks. Here is what Jim recently wrote about this special edition of his beloved comic strip: “I have devoted my color Sunday Sherman’s Lagoon comic strip to creating awareness and public interest in shark conservation. Recent populations studies done by numerous independent marine biologists confirm that many species of large sharks from great whites to hammerheads to tiger sharks are being overfished to the point that only 10% of their historic populations remain. This fall, shark catch limits are going to be reevaluated by scientists, and the Nation Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is going to seek to establish more stringent catch limits. The US regulations may well set an international precedent, which is badly needed, since most of the overfishing is now happening in unregulated international waters.We have a chance to show the NMFS that the public does indeed care about sharks – that they aren’t considered pests but a vital part of nature.” Read Jim’s full message