Save the Shark, Because They Can’t Save Themselves

 The cruel system of shark finning has decimated the shark population. Up to 100 million sharks are slaughtered each year, if this trade continues at this alarming rate sharks will not be able to survive. Sharks need human and government help, they need legal protection. Sharks should be legally protected by the government because sharks help the ecosystem, the shark population is becoming endangered, and sharks are not a great threat.  

One reason sharks need to be protected is the active shark fin trade is causing the population to deplete and become endangered. Over fishing and illegal fishing slaughters around 11,000 sharks per hour and 274,000 per day. This results in the decimation of 100 million sharks per year. Most shark species take upwards of 15 years to fully mature. In addition sharks have a very slow reproduction system therefore sharks cannot reproduce at the rate of the demand for shark fins. Shark population is not only decreasing at a cumbersome rate but also at an expeditious rate. In the past 50 years, 1975-2025, the worldwide shark population has decreased by 70% In fact, some scientists estimate that in the next century sharks will be on the verge of extinction. If finning persists to operate at this level the next generation will potentially live in a world where there are no sharks. Where the ocean ecosystem is in disarray. 

In addition, sharks should be protected because sharks are main contributors in keeping a balanced ecosystem. The ocean ecosystem is like the wooden block game of Jenga, it has a calculated and functional balance until the players start to remove blocks. Every species in the ocean is a block, from the microplankton to the tuna fish to the sharks, they all have a part in keeping the ecosystem balanced. In relation to Jenga, if the wrong block is removed it all comes tumbling down. With the extermination of sharks some ocean species populations would escalate to extremes, such as the seal population resulting in the reduction and possibly an elimination in sea urchins and kelp populace. Other marine species, as a result of shark extinction, would disappear such as the pilot fish who depend on the shark through a mutualistic relation. Additionally, the extinction of sharks would also be unfavorable to humans. Sharks prey on injured and diseased fish initially. This not only helps the ecosystem and population of fish species to remain healthy, but it also benefits fishery companies. Without sharks eliminating substandard fish, the percentage of unsellable and inadequate fish rises significantly. Therefore, causing deleterious harm to fish economics. Sharks are necessary to sustain the balanced ecosystem, eliminating sharks would certainly cause ecosystem collapse.

Moreover, sharks do not pose the threat that the media portrays. Letting fear control humans has had a major impact in the depletion of shark populations. When the movie Jaws came out in 1975 people were unnerved by the depiction of the Great White Shark. People assumed that sharks were nothing but cold blooded monsters. This is false, even the director , Steven Spielberg, of the movie stated “I truly and to this day regret the decimation of the Great white Shark population because of the book and film.” The truth is sharks are not as dangerous as they seem. In fact, there is a one in 11 million chance of the average human who swims in the ocean simi-regularly to be attacked by a shark unprovoked. Another truth is sharks cannot in fact smell blood a mile away, instead more like a few football fields away. Furthermore, sharks do not like or are drawn to human blood. It’s like if a human was given the option between a hamburger and grass they would choose the burger because who would want to eat grass, similarly, sharks prefer fish over humans because fish is their primary food. Not to mention the statistically numerous array of unique ways of fatality more likely than a shark attack. A small list includes, hot dogs, armed toddlers, falling out of bed, champagne corks, being crushed by a vending machine, being buried alive, selfies, and falling T.V.s. Ultimately, fear of sharks should not be the result of their extinction. 

It is important to consider that most people opposed to sharks being protected vocalize the fact that sharks are responsible for human fatalities, making the trade illegal could affect the economy, and shark fin soup is a cultural tradition and should not be prohibited. Although these are true statements and facts, they aren't valid reasons to continue to sanction shark finning. On average sharks are responsible for 7-12 human fatalities per year. As stated before, the statistics of a shark attack is quite rare. Sharks are not out to kill humans, they are just trying to survive. Furthermore, making shark finning illegal could disrupt the economy negatively in ways such as affecting income to fishermen, especially shark finners, resulting in loss of revenue in the fin trade, and most importantly the upshot of illegal fishing. Making shark fins all the more valuable and sought after therefore risking the increase of illegally harvested shark fins. In addition prices of shark fins would rise exponentially, furthermore encouraging the fin trade. However, the benefits of protecting sharks outweigh the faults. Protecting sharks will corollary in saving the species. Additionally, a striving shark population encourages ecotourism. Lastly, shark fin soup is a cultural practice dating back 600 years and should not be prohibited because of the heritage passed down with it. While shark fin soup is considered luxurious and culturally sacred in China, the reality is shark fins have no flavor. Substitutes such as beef, chicken, or tofu can be easily used in replace of fins. In fact, professional chefs such as Gordon Ramsey proclaim the dish to be “wasteful” and “cruel”. Gordon Ramsey himself even made a short documentary about the cruelty of shark finning. In closing, although preventing sharks has certain advantages, unless something gets done to protect the sharks they will not survive. Therefore the issues that may result in legally protecting sharks greatly outweigh the risks of not.   

 Because a healthy and striving shark population helps the ecosystem, the shark population is rapidly being depleted, sharks are not an immense threat, and the results of protecting sharks are much more beneficial that not the government should global and legally protect sharks. Time is running out, sharks are not multiplying, and people must act because sharks can't save themselves.