Article - Knights of the Deep Blue

KNIGHTS OF THE DEEP BLUE

Sharks have roamed our planet from the time of the dinosaurs. These undersea apex predators, have been surviving major mass extinctions throughout time, they have evolved to survive anything, but humans have disrupted it all. These creatures, that have been on our planet for so long, are now being driven to the risk of extinction.

Sharks face an astounding number of threats such as overfishing, bycatch, habitat destruction and degradation, climate change, plastic pollution, and illegal shark finning wherein sharks are caught for their fins for use in shark fin soup, a delicacy in Asia. The fins are cut off with the dead carcass being thrown back into the sea. Sharks also grow quite slowly and take years to reproduce, which makes them vulnerable to overfishing. The great impact that these hazards have had on the shark populations worldwide is extremely obvious. From a study conducted it has been found that “nearly 20% of the world’s sharks have vanished from reefs thought to be teaming with life.”

If we really do care about our oceans, then sharks are a crucial species to ensure that life goes on. If they are extinct, then the population of small fish will rise steadily and their food, such as planktons and shrimp will decline at the same rate, ultimately all of that will get over, leaving these small fish to starve. We know that sharks prey on these small fish and so keep a balance in the ecosystem. They also improve the overall health of the ocean, seagrass beds and coral reefs. As they are apex predators, they prevent a certain species from taking over a certain resource and so, increase diversity.

While researchers identify the primary culprits for the decline of shark populations, they also provide certain solutions that would help protect and rebuild these endangered species. We must regulate commercial fishing, set catching limits, create sanctuaries and protected areas where they can thrive and also ban gillnets and finning.

I hope that this article can shed some light on the causes and concerns for shark population declines in our lifetime and inspire to help preserve the apex predators from extinction.