Today, July 14th, marks Shark Awareness Day. A time to shine a spotlight on one of the ocean’s oldest and most misunderstood creatures: Sharks.
When you hear the word shark, what comes to mind? Giant jaws, lurking predators, horrifying bloody scenes. Films like Jaws have done a good job portraying them as monsters. But the truth is that they are not the villains everyone wants them to be.
What is the Truth?
Sharks have been to this earth for over 400 million years, making them older than dinosaurs. They are crucial for the marine ecosystems as most of them are apex predators, keeping populations of other species in balance and maintaining the health of coral reefs, seagrass beds and in general the oceans.
Despite their importance, many sharks are now facing serious threats, not from natural predators, but from us.
Every year, over 100 million sharks are killed by humans, for their jaws, fins, meat or caught accidentally in commercial fisheries. That number is staggering, and due to their slow reproduction and long life-span, one third of sharks are facing extinction.
Yet, public perception continues to be driven by fear, and not facts. A reality check? Shark attacks on humans are rare. You are more likely to be injured by a falling coconut or struck by lightning than attacked by a shark. Sharks don’t hunt people, they don’t care about us. In fact, we are not even on their menu.
Urgent actions are needed. Without sharks, ecosystems can collapse, and fisheries, coastal health and food web will be impacted.
Greenland shark: One of the longest vertebrates with a lifespan at least 272 years. Find more about it on our monthly chomp.
What can you do?
- Read our monthly chomps and participate in our quizzes to educate yourself. https://sharkangels.org/monthly-chomp/
- Look for eco-certified options to support sustainable fishing.
- Avoid shark productions, such as shark fin, cartilage, and oil. https://sharkangels.org/shark-products/
- Support organisations like us and share shark positive content. https://sharkangels.org/common-questions/
Today isn’t just about saving sharks but restoring balance to the ocean and proving that we can coexist with nature. So next time you hear the “dunnn dunn” of Jaws, remember: sharks aren’t the enemy but some of the greatest allies of the ocean.