SHARKS ARE FRIENDS, NOT FOOD!
STOP SHARK FINNING!
Sharks are misunderstood and our fears are fueled by the media – not by fact.
In the last 50 years, the slaughter of sharks has risen by 400%, and by 2030, it is anticipated that 20 species of sharks could become extinct.
To obtain fins, fishermen often engage in shark finning at sea. Finning is a brutal process that involves slicing the fins off a live shark then throwing the shark back into the ocean to die.
A large percentage of shark fishing around the world is illegal and supports a ruthless black market. If you think that this is a problem of underdeveloped countries & not the western world or closer to home, in the US, you would be terribly naïve. I have personally witnessed finned shark carcasses in the Florida Keys & met countless sport fisherman on both coasts of the U.S. that boast their shark hunting statistics & perceived prowess.
Current estimates reflect that over 100 million sharks are killed each year, although exact numbers are difficult to determine. Up to 90% of some shark species have already been wiped out in areas around the world, probably in oceans near you.
Studies are already indicating that regional elimination of sharks can cause disastrous effects including the collapse of fisheries and the death of coral reefs. Aside from the obvious direct benefits humans get from coral reef systems worldwide (ie oxygen) … as capitalist Americans maybe this is more impactful: The net economic value of the world’s coral reefs is estimated to be nearly 29.8 billion U.S. dollars per year. For those doing the math that’s 6X Mr. Trump’s ill-conceived southern border wall expansion.
Few people know or care that many shark species are rapidly moving towards extinction. Our irrational fear of sharks explains the lack of desire to save & in some cases our zeal to destroy.
Sharks are misunderstood and our fears are fueled by the media – not by fact. So next time you sit down to watch Discovery Channel’s annual “Shark Week” programing … do so with a sense of awe not fear or ignorance.
Learn More About Sharks!
Learn How to be Shark Free at www.sharkangels.org
More Shark Info at www.biminisharklab.com
Spectacular Shark Images at www.waterinspired.org
Premier Dive Live-Aboard at www.julietsailinganddiving.com
Great Hammerhead Safaris at www.biminiscubacenter.com
Awesome Underwater Photography at www.atmoji.com
