Why We Need Sharks

When people think of sharks their minds usually go to bloodthirsty predators with an appetite for human flesh. But this image is so far from the truth.

If you ask a swimmer or beachgoer what their biggest fear in the water is 9 out of 10 will say SHARKS. If you ask the same thing to a diver, you will get a very different answer. Divers tend to get a much closer and personal encounter with sharks yet they are less afraid of them. Why? Wouldn’t it be easier for this top predator to snatch up a “fish out of water” (human) when we have to rely on a tank of air and other equipment to stay down in the water? One whose body is not designed to move gracefully and swiftly in water or hear/feel everything around them. The truth is they don’t see us as “food” they just see us as another inhabitant of the ocean, albeit an awkward one. Divers are much more comfortable being in the water with sharks because they get to see the REAL shark, not just what’s been portrayed in films. They form a better understanding and knowledge of sharks and how important they are.

We fear what we don’t understand and fear leads to hate. It’s my hopes that by reading this article you can gain some knowledge of sharks and why we really do need them in our world, and learn to appreciate them rather than fear/hate them.

 

About Sharks

 

There are over 500 different species of sharks, from the tiny lantern shark that can fit in the palm of your hand, to the most well-known great white, to the largest fish species reaching lengths of up to 39ft, the whale shark. Whale sharks do not have menacing large teeth but instead have tiny teeth and filter feed on mainly plankton, small fish, and crustations. Sharks come in many different shapes and sizes, some are apex predators while others are filter feeders or scavengers. Some even glow in the dark! They have inhabited and shaped our oceans for more than 450 million years.

Of the more than 500 species there are only 12 that have been associated with human casualties and even those have been on a very nominal scale, but with such small casualty rates on humans more than one quarter of shark species are threatened or endangered according to the IUCN, while many more species are at risk of being on these lists but lack proper studies to conclude their conservation status. Sharks are slower growing fish that sexually mature and breed later in life. They also have relatively few offspring. This makes them very sensitive to the effects of overfishing, and as a result there is an alarming decline in shark species.

But wait wouldn’t that be a good thing? Wouldn’t this make our beaches and shorelines safer? This is a big misconception and let me explain why:

 

Why we need sharks

Sharks play a very important role in the health of the oceans and ecosystem as a whole. The health of our species is dependent on the health of our atmosphere and the other species that reside within it. There is no easy answer to why sharks are important, it can mean something different to each and every one of us. Some people may see their importance in them being a part of the ecosystem while others need some kind of economic benefit to see value in them. If their preservation itself isn’t enough here are ways that sharks play a very critical role in our environment.

1. Sharks help maintain the balance of the ecosystem

   

   Sharks can play many roles in the environment. The apex predators that are hated/feared, along with other predators, play a very important role of maintaining diversity and creating balance needed for healthy oceans. 2 great examples are their presence on coral reefs and seagrass beds.

   1. Sharks that feed on turtles, like tiger sharks, are actually helping to preserve the natural seagrass beds. Many people may find this act disturbing, and it may increase their aversion for sharks, but it is necessary for a healthy ecosystem. By preying on sea turtles, they are preventing the turtles from overgrazing the sea beds that are very important as carbon sinks. To evade sharks, turtles move around and don’t deplete one area. Without seagrass meadows many species of fish, shellfish, and birds wouldn’t survive.
   2. Many apex predators prey on other predators. This helps to keep the population in check. If there were to many predators preying on herbivores and other reef fish the reefs would be at great risks of devastation. Without herbivores on the reefs to eat algae off of the corals the algae would grow out of control and take over the reefs. This would reduce the biodiversity of the reefs while diminishing its resilience of threats like tropical storms and bleaching events.

2. Sharks remove carbon from the atmosphere

   If increased carbon emissions are of importance to you here are examples of ways sharks can help remove carbon from the atmosphere.

   1. As mentioned, the presence of sharks helps preserve seagrass beds and coral reefs. Both of these things absorb carbon from the atmosphere and prevents the release of greenhouse gasses from the warming atmosphere. Studies have shown that where shark populations have declined coral reef and seagrass bed health has also declined.
   2. Sharks store carbon in their bodies. Just by being present in the environment they are helping to reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere.

3. Sharks help to cycle nutrients/keep the carbon cycle in motion

   Their migration and diving behaviors help to cycle nutrients between different locations and depths. They also keep the carbon cycle in motion by feeding on dead matter on the seafloor.

4. Sharks are important to the economy

   

   Sharks are economically important in several ways of which include eco-tourism and fishing communities.

   1. Fishing communities – The presence of sharks in an area has a direct relation to the presence of other predators. In areas where they are absent, other predator’s numbers increase and species are lost that are important to local fisheries. The vast decrease in these species can be detrimental to local fishing communities and cause local fisheries to close.
   2. Eco-tourism – The presence of sharks can have a huge impact on the economy through eco-tourism. This can be a very large money making opportunity for areas that still have sharks present. In the Bahamas a single reef shark is worth appx. $250,000 because of dive tourism. Not only does the presence of sharks help the reefs but it can help support whole communities.

5. Sharks helps promote health of other species

   Sharks tend to prey on the sick or weaker fish. By taking out these few, they are increasing species diversity and promotes stronger genetics as only the strong survive and reproduce.

6. Sharks are being studied for cures

   Sharks tissue appears to be antibacterial and anticoagulant. These properties along with others are being studied by scientists to find a treatment for many diseases caused by viruses and is currently being studied for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

 

Sharks are in danger

As mentioned more than a quarter of shark species are at risk of extinction with many more in danger. Over 100 million sharks are killed EVERY YEAR in commercial fisheries. With their slow growth and reproduction, they are being caught faster than they can reproduce and many populations have declined by more than 90% due to overfishing, climate change, and habitat loss. Our future depends on the health of the oceans. Without the presence of sharks there would be a top-down effect that would devastate the balance needed for healthy oceans.

Let’s look at what could happen if sharks went extinct:

Sharks directly impact species and indirectly affect other species. Without sharks, other predators would dominate the waters and cause the health of the reefs and seagrass beds to deteriorate. This would release more carbon back into the environment, increasing the effects of climate change. It would also cause thousands of species of fish to lose their habitats. The loss of sharks would also greatly impact the economy. As other predator fish took over many local fisheries would go out of business due to the loss of fishes that their communities depend on. This would also drastically effect communities like the Bahamas that dependent on shark tourism.

 

What you can do to help

Sharks are in need of protection more now than ever. Here are some ways you can help:

1. Don’t buy shark products

   Sharks are worth much more in alive in tourism than they are for their meat however they are being caught by the millions just for their fins. This isn’t something very prominent in the US and UK, but is something to look out for if you travel elsewhere. There’s no good reason to eat shark meat, it’s said to have no taste and is very harmful to the species as a whole. Just don’t do it.

2. Support Eco-tourism

   

   This is a great way to help support shark conservation. Make sure you are using a reputable company that uses good practices. Eco-tourism helps the community and can help to support protected areas where fishing is not allowed. But not only that, it also provides a better insight and appreciation for these species. I have been on multiple shark dives and I can personally tell you I absolutely LOVED every minute of it and couldn’t recommend something more.

3. Choose sustainably sourced seafood

   Some people don’t like seafood and some people have cut it out completely due to the harmful effects commercial fishing has on our environment. If you are like me and still want to enjoy your favorite seafood dishes make sure you choose seafood that is sustainably sourced. This can mean only choosing food at the supermarket with a blue marine stewardship council tick or opting for line-caught fish when eating out. It can also look like only eating the fish that you catch yourself so you know exactly how it was sourced.

4. Change your habits

   There are small changes you can make to your daily habits to help preserve the environment and keep trash out of our oceans. This can look like, avoiding single-use plastics when possible, carrying reusable containers and water bottles, opting for plastic free packaging, buying from bulk bins and storing in glass jars, reusing what you already have and recycling locally, just to name a few.

5. Educate yourself and those around you

   Take some time to do a little digging and learn more. With this new knowledge you can help educate those around you and help support the conservation of these amazing species.

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and have learned something new, hopefully gaining a new appreciation for these amazing creatures. They really are worth saving. We will be spotlighting certain shark species to give you more insight into what makes them so interesting and amazing soon so keep on the lookout.