Sharks are a type of fish that are known to live in salty water, except for the bull and the rivers sharks which can live in both salty and fresh waters. They are large animals at the top of the food chain, which means that they have limited predators feeding on them. They come in various species and are a sister group to the rays. Although sharks are not very harmless to human beings (research shows that only 12 people are killed by sharks every year, while human beings kill a worrying 100 million sharks annually), the marine animals are facing extinction if something is not done to protect them. This essay explores sharks and the risks they are facing in the hands of human beings, and includes a case study about the same issue.
About Sharks
Sharks are amazing marine animals which have all the features of fish, including a cartilaginous skeleton and dermal denticles which protect them from mechanical damage to their skin in addition to enabling them to swim properly. Common species include the hammerhead, great white, blue, tiger and mako sharks (Shark Foundation). These marine animals are apex predators. This means that they are at the end of the marine food chain and are preyed on by only a few organisms. Another interesting fact about sharks is that the marine animals, anciently know to mariners as ‘marine dogs’ have replaceable teeth. They occasionally shed their teeth which people use as cheap souvenirs. Although research evidence shows that someone is more likely to be bitten by a fellow human than a shark, humans continue to kill the animals for commercial or sporting purposes, threatening their population (Heimbuch, 2013). The sharks can inflict lethal bites, with the tiger shark and the great white being some of deadliest species.
Shark Finning
Shark fin soup is a popular delicacy in China and is served in important occasions such as weddings and other social ceremonies. While previously fin soup was a preserve of the rich, the increasing economic power of the people means that more and more people can afford it. However, this comes at the cost of decreasing shark population. Research indicates at the current rate of shark population decline, a majority of the species could be extinct in 30 years since finning causes up to 100 million shark deaths annually (DeFranza, 2013). While in the United States there is a specific law (Shark Finning Prohibition Act) that restricts shark finning and calls for international initiatives to ban the practice, there is a lack of a strict monitoring and control program for finning and international shark trade globally.
One of the obvious effects of a declining shark population is the disruption of the ecological balance, especially seeing that these marine predators are at the top of the marine food chain (DeFranza, 2013). For example, when shark numbers decrease, their prey multiply and in turn wipe out species lower in the food chain, with far reaching consequences on the marine ecological balance. Taking initiatives to ban finning and trade of shark products can go a long way in protecting these marine animals from extinction.
Conclusion
In conclusion, sharks are amazing marine animals sitting at the top of the underwater food chain. Although some shark species are capable of inflicting lethal bites, sharks are essentially less harmless than most other marine and land animals. Human activities are threatening the big fish’s population, which could lead to an impact on the ecological balance in the marine environment. It is imperative that finning and other human activities that put sharks at risk are banned or, at the very least, regulated to protect the marine animals from extinction.
Shark Finning and Consequences
Shark finning is a serious problem, causing an approximated 100 million shark deaths every year. The popularity of the shark fin soup in China and the larger Asian continent is one of the major factors contributing to killing of sharks to obtain the fins. In this region, fin soup is often seen as a sign of affluence, as evidenced by the cost of a single bowl in Hong Kong (over $100). The cost of a single fin has been increasing (past the $10 000 mark), with a worryingly corresponding plummeting of the shark population.
Realizing the risk of finning, the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) banned trade in basking and whale sharks in 2003. The two species are at the highest risk of extinction. Scientific research and data collection is important to glean information and create awareness, which can go a long way in saving sharks from extinction. For example, reports publicized by scientists have shown that sharks’ population is under threat, stirring public outcry and protest. This has led some countries such as the US to ban shark finning. Thanks to the information from scientific research, people have argued that finning is cruel, wasteful and even unethical. While there are mixed opinions as far as the ethics of shark finning is concerned, there is little doubt that careless exploitation of the marine animals threatens their population.
References
DeFranza, D. (2013). 8 of the World’s Most Endangered Sharks. Retrieved 7 December, 2013
Heimbuch, J. (2013). Shark Finning- The Big Picture of s Big Problem. Retrieved 7 December,
2013 from http://animal.discovery.com/endangered-species/shark-finning.htm
Shark Foundation. (2005). Endagered Shark Species. Retrieved 7 December, 2013 from
http://www.shark.ch/Preservation/EndangeredSharks/index.html
