For more than 400 million years, sharks have been swimming in the world’s oceans. – 130 million years before the first dinosaurs traveled the earth. Today, shark populations are declining at an alarming rate, and that is cause for real concern. One of the causes is commercial fishing or what I would call extracting resources from the seas indiscriminately just for profit. Sharks are killed on a large scale by unscrupulous fishermen. Humans have used sharks throughout history. Shark Liver Oil – Squalene is marketed and traded as an expensive ingredient in cosmetics and lotions. Squalene is also sold in pill form as health supplements, and is believed to be great for a healthy heart. It is scientifically believed that shark liver oil is made up of around 60-85% of this organic matter. However, plants such as the olive tree and the fruit of the oil palm also contain this substance, although to a lesser degree. Olive oil, received from the first compression, contains about 400-450 mg/100g of squalene. So, logically speaking, we have the option to kill or boot, right?
Another reason is recreational fishing, which is a popular ‘sport’ in many countries. Several species, such as blue sharks and shortfin mako sharks, are targeted by recreational anglers for prestigious trophies. How can it be a sport to kill innocent animals, especially with elements of prestige? Soon these sharks will be forgotten and our future generation will be denied knowledge of their existence. Furthermore, sharks have also been labeled as man-eaters, therefore hunted in revenge for their attack on humans. No thanks to ‘Jaws’ by Steven Spielberg, released in 1975, based on a novel by Peter Benchley. ‘Jaws’ overwhelmingly colonized the minds of moviegoers into accepting the myth that Great Whites are nothing more than notorious man-eaters. Every year, humans kill more than 100 million sharks around the world. This includes the tens of millions of sharks that are caught and killed annually for their purposes, which are used in one of the world’s most expensive seafood delicacies: shark fin soup. More statistics will continually increase our concerns if we include all sharks caught in fishermen’s nets as by-catch.
Shark fin soup may remain a delicacy for some who refuse to alter their taste buds and cravings for a cocktail of food made from anything but devoid of compassion and empathy for another being, coexisting on the same planet at the same time. that we call home. The killing stops when the demand stops and again we are left with the responsibility to prevent further destruction of our sea creatures. Malaysia, for its part, has made a resolution, albeit not officially, but through its tourism initiatives for Visit Malaysia Year 2016, under the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, to boycott all restaurants serving shark fin soup. or any by-product of such nature. The East Malaysian state of Sabah in Borneo is to be commended for its rigorous effort to assure tourists that they will not have the leeway to patronize outlets serving shark-based products.
In some countries, shark body parts are sold as souvenirs. Recreational fishermen target large sharks to make a trophy out of their jaws, which can sell for hundreds of dollars. Not only that, shark teeth are also another popular item found in souvenir shops, as well as small or baby sharks in jars of formaldehyde.
However, coastal development has altered habitats. Many shark species use inshore and coastal estuarine habitats as a safe place to find food, give birth, and grow away from predators and competitors. This means that they are now vulnerable to negative changes in their habitat. Sharks are also affected by chemical pollution and environmental pollution. Pollution in the ocean comes from land-based activities or is deposited directly into the seas. In some cases, mercury has been found in various populations of sharks. The decline in marine life, especially sharks, in general, points squarely to one culprit: human activities.
Sharks must be protected. They help maintain a healthy ocean ecosystem that provides food for 1/3 of our world, more oxygen than all the rainforests combined, removes half of the carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas) from the atmosphere, and controls temperature and climate. of our planet. Sharks are also vital to the maintenance of healthy seagrass beds and coral reefs, as they feed on other marine life that overfeed on these food sources. Sharks keep other marine life in a healthy balance and control themselves by feeding on sick or injured fish in a reef system, creating strong populations of fish and other marine life and regulating the oceans by feeding on animals such as seals They can overfeed on other fish. if its burned population is left unchecked.
Sharks play a vital role at the top of the food chain by maintaining the balance in the oceans. The destruction of shark populations could destroy our oceans and our life support system. Additionally, they provide essential food sources for scavengers. Another benefit is that sharks are a major attraction for tourists. In some parts of the world, especially in island communities, swimming and diving with these magnificent animals are part of the tourist activity packages that generate millions of dollars in annual tourism revenue growth. That’s why sharks are worth much more alive than dead. The domino effect of this development is that it provides job opportunities for people, subsequently raising their economy.
In conclusion, sharks today face the threat of extinction. It is estimated that almost 100 million sharks are needlessly killed in the ocean each year. Scientists believe that if sharks become extinct, we will essentially destroy the delicate balance that is necessary for the survival of thousands of marine species. The severe depletion of certain species is already revealing devastating effects in some areas of the world. Allowing the collapse of the marine ecosystem is not an option for humanity. Considering the fact that at least a third of the oxygen we breathe and a large percentage of the food we eat comes from the ocean, an immediate change from current practices must be implemented if we are to ensure a healthy future for all. Procrastinating is not an option here. We have the knowledge and the means to implement sensible restrictions as we have shared the notion of being the superior being among all creations, but will we really make the necessary changes to avoid an impending environmental dilemma? Are we seeing more than concerted effort and stronger conviction here?