[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/07/16/mike.coots.surf.art.jpg caption="Mike Coots, who was attacked by a shark while surfing off the Hawaiian island of Kauai in 1997, now surfs with a prosthesis after losing his leg in the attack."]
A group of shark attack victims is lobbying Congress this week to protect the very animals that attacked them.
Two of those survivors, Mike Coots and Debbie Salamone, spoke to John Roberts on CNN’s “American Morning” Thursday.
John Roberts: What are your personal experiences in terms of shark attacks? Mike, tell us what happened to you.
Mike Coots: I was bitten by a shark in Hawaii a few years back. And just realizing that they play such an important role in our marine ecosystem. People ask me all the time, “You must be so mad at sharks, you must just hate sharks, do you want to kill sharks?” And stuff like that. I've just come to realize they're out there, they predate the dinosaurs, and we’re in their environment. I have no hatred whatsoever for the animal and feel they really play an important part in our environment.
Roberts: A little more detail on your attack. You were surfing off of Kauai. What happened?
Coots: It was early in the morning in October. I was paddling out with some friends and it was pretty quick. I paddled for a wave. The shark came up from under me and grabbed my leg and did the rag doll thing. It was over quicker than I thought. And it was done. I looked at my leg and my leg was completely gone. Went to the beach and my friend tied a tourniquet, stemmed the bleeding and saved my life. They took me to the hospital. I woke up from surgery, went through rehabilitation and back in the water.
Roberts: What about you Debbie? You were in the Canaveral National Seashore in Florida. What happened?
Debbie Salamone: Right. I was just wading and all of a sudden, a shark came up from behind me and grabbed my foot. There was a bit of a struggle and I was able to get away, but it severed my Achilles tendon and tore my heel loose. So same thing as Mike: rehabilitation. But I’m just as good as new now.
Roberts: It was a long time for you to go back in the water after several operations and rehabilitation. How did you feel about sharks right after your attack?
Salamone: I was not a big fan of sharks, I have to say. It took me a while to get over somewhat of an animosity. I saw it more as a test of my resolve because I felt very strongly about the environment before this happened, so I was able to really see this as a test of my commitment to my feeling for environmental conservation. As a result, I sought out work with the Pew Environment Group, which has a big emphasis on marine and a committed global shark conservation campaign.
Roberts: That is a big turnaround in attitude. This week, you and seven others went to Congress to lobby them for a bill that would ban finning. Tell us what this is and why you are so against it.
Salamone: Shark finning is a very brutal process where they slice the fins right off the shark. Oftentimes, the shark will be dumped back into the water, even alive. It’s a very profitable business. These fins can bring up to $300 per pound and we are losing enormous amounts of sharks to this practice. Up to 73 million sharks every year are killed just for their fins. And we’re hunting some of these species to extinction. It's going to have dire consequences for the entire ocean ecosystem.
Roberts: Mike, do you think you bring an instant credibility to this issue because of your experience?
Coots: Yeah. I think just the irony of the situation makes for wonderful press. But who else for an advocate for sharks than someone who's been bitten by a shark? I think it's a great idea and I’m glad to be a part of the Pew Environment Group and hopefully we can make a difference in Congress.
Roberts: So in other words, I guess, the issue is bigger than the two of you, right?
Coots: Yeah, it’s way bigger than the two of us. It's absolutely incredible, just the amount of sharks being killed.