"Due to the fact that sharks take years to reach maturity and naturally reproduce slowly, it takes a long time for them to recover from heavy fishing pressure. Scientific studies show that all around the world areas where sharks have been removed there has been a correlating crash in fish stocks and a degradation of the local reefs because sharks are a critical component to maintaining the health of the ocean that we all rely on for the air that we breathe, sustenance, products, and the environment as we know it. Sharks function as the immune system of the ocean, like the white blood cells they combat diseases by picking off dead, weak, or sick animals keeping lower trophic level populations healthy and in balance. Currently over 100 million sharks are killed annually. Eleven states in the US including Hawaii, Washington, California and Texas have banned the sale, possession and trade of shark fin products. Many species of sharks have been recognized as endangered species and given special protections due to their vulnerability by organizations such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the United Nations, and the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). In addition to being grossly unsustainable, shark meat and shark fin soup are also a potential health hazard because they are high in toxins. Due to the fact that sharks are at the top of the food chain, apex predators tend to bioaccumulate heavy metals and toxins such as mercury, lead and BMAA that have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Consumption of mercury even in small quantities can cause damage to the brain, digestive, and immune system. Consuming shark can be especially detrimental for children and pregnant women and can contribute to serious illness in any person over time" (One Ocean Conservation).

One Ocean Diving Conservation efforts and projects. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.freedivewithsharks.com/one-ocean-conservation

Shark Finning. (2019, December 21). Retrieved from https://seasave.org/shark-finning/