Carmel man attacks 'Shark Hunters' on NBC Sports

AJ Mills was enjoying a little leisure time on the couch of his Carmel home, watching a Formula One race on NBC Sports when a commercial flashed before his eyes.

"Shark Hunters:The sharks are on the hook, and there's money on the line."

"I actually thought it was a joke. They can't be seriously doing this," Mills said. "I looked it up. They are actually doing this."

"Shark Hunters" is a show that gives money to contestants for killing sharks, animals already under pressure from overfishing, finning and environmental pollution, Mills said.

The show features three tournaments that award prizes for bringing in dead sharks from three species: mako, thresher and porbeagle.

All three of the species hunted on "Shark Hunters" are listed as vulnerable by The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. That's one step away from being endangered.

As an avid scuba diver, zoology major in college and the owner/CEO of Scubaba.com on East Washington Street, Mills was appalled.

"It's bad because if we don't have sharks, the ocean dies, we die," he said. "That's really the fact. We kill all the sharks? We're done."

So, after seeing that commercial six weeks ago, Mills immediately went to work.

He launched a petition on Change.org, which already has more than 85,000 signatures. He's contacted NBC Sports asking for cancellation of the show. Shark scientists have been calling him nonstop supporting his cause. He's used social media relentlessly.

There is a Twitter account @cancelsharkhunt that has 700 followers, but big names tweeting in support, such as Jacques Cousteau's grandson, Fabien Cousteau, with 46.7K followers.

But, perhaps, what may speak the most to NBC Sports, says Mills, is that advertisers pulled their ads during this season of "Shark Hunters." Major companies, such as Clorox, All State Insurance, TripAdvisor and GoToMeeting.

"Shark Hunters" just finished up its second season Sept. 3. But it is still aired as many as eight times each week during the offseason and a third season is in the works.

Mills wants to stop that.

NBC Sports did not immediately return calls for comment. But Dan Masonson, a senior director of communications at NBC Sports did respond to a letter from Mills, which he provided to the Star.

It read, in part: "A number of factors were considered as we programmed this season of Shark Hunters, which chronicles a series of fishing tournaments, some of which have been going on for more than a quarter of a century."

The response goes on to say that the show is in accordance with local/state laws, fish/game commissions and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Masonson also says in the letter that "Shark Hunters" is being evaluated for a third season.

Mills sees no reason to even consider airing another season.

He compares it to a show about other endangered or vulnerable species, such as the red panda, polar bear or the clouded leopard.

If a show featured people hunting, shooting and then killing the biggest one of these animals?

"No way you would show any of this on television," he said. "But because sharks have this image from (the movie) 'Jaws' it's OK."

Call Star Reporter Dana Hunsinger Benbow At (317) 444-6012. Follow Her On Twitter:@Danabenbow.