Why should you care about sharks???

A lot of people have been asking, "why should I save sharks, they scare me." Well, there are a lot of reasons to save sharks. If you are someone who is questioning this new idea, that sharks are not something to fear, you should defiantly watch the movie SharkWater. Trust me after you watch it, you will have a surprising change of heart. I know I did...take it from a Michigander who has been conditioned all her life to fear sharks, and who was told not to surf because you will be eaten by a shark! Well, I haven't been and I no longer fear them, but only see the beauty of this creature that has survived five major extinctions. I have researched and compiled some info for you about why you should save sharks.
In an interview, Rob Stewart explains why we should save sharks:
"Species evolving in the oceans over the last 400 million years, have been shaped by their predators, the sharks, giving rise to schooling behavior, camouflage, speed, size and communication. They have survived five major extinctions and now they are being fished out. Many countries have no sharks left because they are being illegally harvested for their fins and poachers are now fishing sharks from other countries, countries that depend on sharks for food. But no one wants to save sharks, people are afraid of them."
In the movie SharkWater, I learned many things, but the one thing that really stuck in my head is this: Sharks feed on fish that feed on plankton. Plankton produce as much as 80% of the world's oxygen supply, if we eradicate sharks, we will throw off the balance of plankton feeding fish in the ocean...we will decrease the populations of sharks, increase populations of plankton feeders and decrease plankton...inevitably decreasing oxygen supply.
The most heart breaking tragedy that is facing sharks is Shark Finning.
Shark Finning is:
• Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of shark fins and the discard at sea of the carcass. The shark is most often still alive when it is tossed back into the water. Unable to swim, and bleeding to death, the shark suffers a slow death where 95% of the animal is wasted.
• Shark finning takes place at sea so the fishers have only the fins to transport, and have no need for refrigeration. Shark meat is considered low value and therefore not worth the cost of transporting the bulky shark bodies to market.
• Any shark is taken – regardless of age, size, or species. They are even killing the gental and gigantic Whale Shark.
• Long lines are the most widespread method of fishing for sharks.
• Shark finning is widespread, and largely unmanaged and unmonitored.
• Shark finning has increased over the past decade due to the increasing demand for shark fins (for shark fin soup and traditional cures), improved fishing technology, and improved market
economics.
• Shark specialists estimate that more than 100 million sharks are killed for their fins annually.
The Impact of Shark Finning:
• Loss and devastation of shark populations around the world. Experts estimate that within a decade, numerous species of sharks will be lost because of long lining.
• Unsustainable fishery. The massive quantity of sharks harvested and lack of selection deplete shark populations faster than their reproductive abilities sustain.
• Threatens the stability of marine ecosystems.
• Loss of sharks as a food staple for many developing countries.
• Large industrial, foreign fishing vessels that threaten traditional sustainable fisheries invade local waters.
• Obstructs the collection of species-specific data that are essential for monitoring catches and implementing sustainable fisheries management.

Websites about sharks and shark finning
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
www.seashepherd.org

WildAid
www.wildaid.org

Shark Trust
www.sharktrust.org

Shark Project
www.sharkproject.org

The Florida Museum of Natural History/American Elasmobranch Society/International Shark Attack
File
www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/

ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research
http://elasmo-research.org/

Sources:
Sharkwater.com