Sharks
Table of Contents
Introduction
Sharks are amazing creatures who have barely changed since long before humans evolved.
Benefits of Sharks
The following are not listed in any particular order.
Clean Up Crew
They work diligently as the oceans clean-up crew with most species cleaning up carcasses or hunting sick or injured prey. These are important tasks that help reduce disease by cleaning up the environment, and removing sick animals from the biome.
Indicator Species
Sharks also serve as indicator species: Where there are many sharks, you will find a healthy ecosystem. These biomes include ocean reefs and seagrass meadows.
Dangers to Sharks
The following are not listed in any particular order.
Fishing
Persecution, Fishing, and Ghost Gear
Unfortunately humans have given sharks a bad reputation, leading to intentional hunting. On top of general persecution, they also suffer from cruel practices such as finning (removing their fins while still alive an conscious, then dumping them into the ocean where they sink and die slowly). Even when they aren't specifically hunted, thousands end up tangled in fishing nets and ghost gear, which also causes slow, painful deaths.
Pollution
Habitat Loss
Destruction of reefs and seagrass meadows impact sharks and many other species.
Solutions
This section is organized (to the best of our ability) from greatest to least impactful.
Reduce Seafood Industry Impact
The fishing industry has one of the greatest impacts on our oceans, depleting many keystone species that sharks rely on for survival, but also including sharks and their relatives.
Ghost gear from the fishing industry also overlaps with the plastic danger to sharks, as ghost gear makes up the majority of plastic pollution in some parts of the ocean. By switching to less impactful foods like kelp and seaweed, we can help sequester carbon, increasing habitat for small fish and other species in the process, instead of continuing the currently unsustainable levels of damage caused by fishing and shark hunting.
Science & Education
Misinformation and mystery surrounding sharks has led to much of their persecution, so helping the public understand the importance of sharks, can help when it comes to gaining legal protections and law enforcement that can help protect these wonderful creatures.
Citizen Science
Citizen science allows the public (including children) to engage in science on a practical level. This can expand their understanding about important subjects, and help scientists, universities, and other organizations to gather data in order to (in this case) help sharks or even advocate for new laws to protect them.
Ocean-Friendly Gardens & Infrastructure
Run off from land can pollute our oceans with many dangerous chemicals as well as nutrients that can cause toxic algae blooms or deoxygenation. To prevent this we can use sustainable drainage practices and reduce pollution from land ranging from massive farms to tiny gardens.
Community & Farm-Scale Infrastructure
Riparian borders help keep pollutants including pesticides and livestock manure out of waterways, which in turn help protect our oceans.
Sustainable drainage systems can be small or large scale. You can start by digging swales in approrpiate areas or creating rain gardens in your garden. Farms and communities can make use of larger amounts of water, which also protects against future droughts and preventing or reducing local flooding. At the watershed scale, communities can work together to create large networks that protect their entire region from flooding, droughts, and pollution run off with sustainable drainage elements.
Shark-Friendly Bathrooms
Toilets (or lack of them) contributes to the sewage pollution that harms ocean ecosystems around the world. Even cruise ships and countries that have old sewage systems contribute to sewage waste that sickens coral and can carry infections to other wildlife.
Upgrading sewage systems and switching to alternative toilets such as water-free toilets can all help protect wildlife including sharks.
Shark-Friendly Gardens
Anyone from an individual with a balcony to a school or community with some green space can help protect our oceans by making ocean-friendly gardening choices.
Click the following buttons to lean how to avoid common landscaping pollutants and pesticides while you create your own ocean-friendly garden.
Resources
Shark Body Language
Citizen Science Projects
Explore existing citizen science projects in this section or click the Citizen Science Projects button to see a larger directory including sharks and many other topics.
Shark Trust 🦈projects include:
Angling Project 🎣 🦈 "Depending on where you’re fishing, around 20 species of shark, skate and ray might be encountered by sea-anglers in the UK and Ireland. The aim of this project is to ensure this fantastic diversity remains for future generations of anglers."
Basking Shark Project ✏️ 🦈🔭 "You can help us learn more about these gentle giants by being on the look-out for them during May-October (Basking Shark Season). And, if you spot one, by recording your sighting on our Shark Sightings Database.
Today, Basking Sharks are one of the most widely protected and managed sharks in UK and EU waters. Yet, surprisingly little is known about them. Partly because of the difficulty in conducting field research."
Great Eggcase Hunt 🦈🥚 "You can become a citizen scientist by helping us find and record shark eggcases"
Shark and Ray Entanglement Network 🦈 🥅"Plastic pollution affects a variety of marine species including turtles, cetaceans and seals. But little is known about the susceptibility of sharks and rays to this threat."
"The project aims to identify:Species that may be more at risk.
Global entanglement hotspots in the world’s oceans.
Types of marine debris affecting sharks and rays."
Shark Sightings Database ✏️ 🦈🔭 "Our Shark Sightings Database was launched in 2008. It enables individuals and organisations anywhere in the world to record their shark sightings online. The information recorded provides a key resource for shark conservation."
Oceana
New Zealand
Spyfish Aotearoa 🐙 🦈🐟 🐠 # 📷 "Our team deploys baited underwater cameras in marine reserves all over Aotearoa New Zealand to monitor the abundance and diversity of marine life.
Help us identify and count the species of fish recorded by the cameras. Your classifications will be used to determine the effectiveness of the reserves, inform marine management, and protect our taonga (treasured) species."
Educational Opportunities
Africa
South Africa
Shark Academy Volunteer Program "Are you ready to make waves? Immerse yourself in shark science and dive deep into conservation efforts. Join our Shark Academy Marine Biology Volunteer Program for a minimum of 2 weeks and discover the secrets of the ocean while gaining valuable skills. Are you up for the challenge?"
Organizations
International
Shark Trust "We work globally to improve the conservation status of sharks, skates and rays. Advocating for policy changes. And generating collective action to support our goals. Explore our projects..."
The following buttons are to directories that may offer some overlapping organizations and projects.
Africa
South Africa
South African Shark Conservancy "works alongside government, industry, academia, and eNGO sectors to co-develop sustainable management approaches and conservation objectives for sharks, their relatives and coastal ocean ecosystems."