Mako Tacos and Other Bites on the Menu for ‘Shark Week’
— -- Discovery Channel's "Shark Week" is back for its 28th annual programming event this week to sate viewers with a hunger for fun, fin-centric entertainment. But will it whet an appetite for devouring the ocean creature?
From maco tacos to fried shark bites, restaurants across the country are seeking to capitalize off of the TV event by offering the great fish on their menus. While some may be tempted to order up a plate, the inclusion has conservationists foaming at the mouth.
“Bite back with citrus marinated grilled mako. Cause it's shark week,” tweeted Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place, a Georgetown Waterfront dining destination located in Washington, D.C.
The restaurant did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment. But it will be serving the special from now through July 11 to coincide with Discovery Channel’s televised Shark Week event, according to its website.
Further north, Cafe NOLA, a Cajun-themed restaurant based in landlocked Schenectady, N.Y., is offering up a smorgasbord of shark-themed dishes in honor of the programming.
“Mako Shark bites, blackened Mako with mango salsa, Land Shark beer and shark attack!” announced the restaurant on its Facebook page. The restaurant also did not immediately respond to ABC News’ requests for comment.
But conservationists have a lot to say on the topic.
“The Atlantic Shortfin Mako is listed as vulnerable federally, and the National Marine Fisheries Service is asking fishermen to release mako to help stop overfishing of the species in the Atlantic to maintain populations for future generations,” writes Kori Garza, of Haleiwa, Hawaii, in a Change.org petition against Syberg’s Restaurants, a small chain based in St. Louis, Missouri, that offers grilled shark chunks served with butter and fruit for $8.99 on its menu. The petition has already gained 1,031 signatures.
“I'm 14 and passionate about saving our creatures that deserve so much better than this,” wrote one commenter on the petition.
“Anything to save another fellow resident of the earth,” wrote another supporter from Miami.
Sandbar Mexican Grill, which has locations in Chandler and Desert Ridge, Arizona, reportedly featured shark meat on its menu two years ago when it served maco timed to Shark Week.
This year the restaurants opted for an $8 “Shark Bait” plate that includes fish tacos, rice and beans instead. A restaurant employee reached by ABC News said she could not offer comment on the switch.
But Salty Senorita in Scottsdale, Arizona, is unafraid of treading into the predator’s territory. The restaurant began offering a shark salad ($12), shark taco ($3.50) and fried shark bites with a side of fries ($7) over the weekend and will continue the specials all week long.
“We use Thresher shark in all of the dishes,” Salty Senorita’s hostess Samantha Membery told ABC News. “The salad version is served like a steak on top of a Ceasar salad, and they all come with a side of lime wedges.”
Mussel Bar Bethesda in Maryland is similarly diving into the Shark Week trend, announcing a week’s worth of mako shark specials that include blackened shark tacos with frites, and shark spring-rolls with a spicy sweet chili dip.
Discovery Channel does not have any direct affiliation with any of the restaurants ABC News found serving shark meat. But the network has partnered with Dunkin’ Donuts for a social-media promotion.
