Why Sharks Are Heading To Extinction

Shark finning, the removal and retention while the remainder of the living shark are discarded in the ocean. Sharks returned to the ocean without their fins are often still alive and unable to move effectively, they sink to the bottom of the ocean and suffocate or are eaten by other predators.

Shark Finning at sea enables fishing vessels to increase their profitability and increase the number of sharks harvested, as they only have to store and transport the fins by far the most profitable part of the shark.

Every fin on a shark is a target for shark finning, the primary dorsal fin, secondary dorsal fin, caudal fin, anal fin, pelvic fin and pectoral fins. Finners target most of the shark species. The most common species of shark hunted are The Blacktip shark, Blue Shark, Bull Shark, Hammerhead Shark, Porbeagle Shark, Mako Shark, Sandbar Shark, Thresher Shark, Tiger Shark and The Great White Shark.

Impact On Sharks

The removal of a shark’s fin prevents it from swimming, and therefore incapable of hunting for prey or from avoiding predators and some species lack the ability to pump water through their gills and must swim without rest, these species “suffocate” if unable to move.

Tens of millions of sharks are “Finned” each year, and around 8,000 tons of shark fins are transported to restaurants around the world to be turned into “Shark Fin Soup”. Shark fins are alone tasteless and they are used alongside a concoction of stocks.

Many people especially consumers are unaware of the suffering that finning causes. Since 1970 some species of sharks have declined by over 90%. Since 1972 Blacktip shark populations have fallen by 93%, tiger sharks by 97% and bull sharks, dusky sharks and smooth hammerheads by 99%. This is due to the fact that sharks take up to 7 years to mature and only have 1 or 2 pups each year.

Are Sharks Really Blood Thirsty?

Humans also find way of justifying their behaviours, every year up to 100 million sharks are slaughtered each year and we call them the bloodthirsty killers. No more than 12 humans are killed each year by shark attacks. Sea Shepherd claims more people are killed by lightning strikes whilst playing golf than by sharks each year.

So even though they are not the bloodthirsty animals many people claim they are, we still continue to hunt and slaughter them. We as the human race have almost eradicated the entire shark population from the ocean and what for?

Well initially for their fins, but also for their teeth and jaws, we also kill them for leather to make shoes and belts. We slaughter them for shark liver oil, for shark cartilage (pseudo cancer cures). Sharks are also used for cosmetics, skin care products and in medicines.

What Will Happen If They Become Extinct?

Sharks are a major citizen to the oceans eco-system and when these amazing species become extinct no one is sure what long lasting effects it will have upon the world, however due to the fact that sharks are one of the main predators in the ocean and without them, we could possibly lose almost the amount of oxygen that is produced by all of the trees and forests in the world.

We will also be removing sharks from future generations, and this would be a loss for all of our children and grandchildren, these animals once extinct will never ever be able to be brought back to life. Once they are gone that’s it. There gone.

Two hundred and fifty million years ago the planet suffered from a mass extinction and scientists believe this caused catastrophic changes in the oceans. Sharks play a major role in our ocean and they ensure our seas maintain a healthy balance and not to reach the point of two hundred and fifty million years ago again.

How To Help Stop This

A shark seen as menacing, showing their teeth and thus are seen as “cold-blooded” killers, so protecting them is harder as many members of the everyday public believe that they are killers not cute and smiley like dolphins and seals.

Many countries are to blame for this mass slaughter of sharks happening, not just in countries where shark fin soup is sold as a delicacy. Countries such as Argentina, India, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Spain and Egypt as well as many more have little to no legislation on shark finning and due to this the slaughter will continue until either it’s banned globally or the sharks become extinct.

Sharks are clever, beautiful creatures and do not deserve to be slaughtered for a tasteless food or for medicine and many of us are supporting this cruel slaughter to take place even if we do not eat the soup. Things like face cream, wallets and jewellery can all contain shark products and every time someone buys something containing shark it’s adding to the demand for them to be fished and finned.

Please help protect these beautiful creatures by not buying any product including sharks and also by helping and donating to charities and organisations such as The Sea Shepherds and Save The Sharks.