Sharks on the Brink
Who's the real predator?
Most people wouldn't think of sharks unless reminded by Shark Week on Discovery Channel or reading the rare news of a shark attack. People are scared of sharks and often want to put them out of their mind—especially when vacationing on beaches—but they risk extinction if we don't think of them. Recently, more people have become aware of the shark finning industry and realizing the repercussions that this practice has had on the global populations of sharks.
Sharks have been caught in astronomical numbers to have their fins harvested and then their bodies chucked into the water because the most desirable parts of the shark are the fins or the teeth. The sharks then bleed out and sink to the bottom of the ocean floor. It has been reported that 190 sharks are killed a minute. Compared to the 118 provoked and unprovoked shark attacks which occurred last year in 2017, it appears humans are hunting this predator close to extinction.
The shark finning industry is mainly fueled by one delicacy, symbolizing status and power. Aside from trophy fins, these fins are sold to make a delicacy known as shark fin soup. It is eaten in Asian countries, but is served in restaurants and hotels around the world. It has become a highly profitable market.
Sharks face many other threats, such as culling off of the shores of Australia's beaches, South Africa's, and New Zealand's. It has been argued as beneficial in order to keep the populous safe, though there have been recent attempts to stop these measures in exchange for more humane efforts of keeping sharks out of public recreational waters. As more people become aware and begin to rally in support of shark conservation, politicians take notice, and with such successes in support of the sharks as the Shark Fin Trade Elimination Act, supported in the US Congress, the question which seems to hang in the air is whether or not these efforts are enough, and if not, how can we protect this vital member of the ocean's ecosystem from extinction?
Sources:
"Can America Lead the World on Banning the Shark Fin Trade?"
About the Creator
Keep reading
More stories from writers in The Swamp and other communities.
Should the U.S. Pay Reparations to Black Americans?
I know that most people are already fixed in their position for or against reparations, and many will prematurely close out this article as soon as it looks like the conclusion being reached doesn’t agree with their own. However, there are many factors being considered below and the argument is a winding one. Ultimately, any that are entirely for or entirely against are likely to disagree in part with the final conclusion reached.
By Martin Vidal6 days ago in The Swamp
High Rise, Deep Impact
I have witnessed a death that I relive every time I step into an elevator. Although it no longer affects me as deeply—given that it's been 11 years since the incident—it remains a heart- rending memory from my first and last day as a paramedic. My initial call to the scene involved a man who seemed to have fallen down the elevator shaft of a high-rise building. Alternatively, it might have been that the elevator moved upwards while he was working on it. Different scenarios were being considered when I arrived.
By Penelope Henain5 days ago in Writers
A Minute's Difference
It was a Tuesday, 2:58...59 in the afternoon. My friend Andy was white-knuckled gripping the edge of his school desk, staring desperately at the second hand of the clock slooowly circling round, while our teacher droned on and on. A girl behind me cracked her gum. Another classmate was fervently scribbling notes. I was trying to look just awake enough not to get called on. Wrapped in my grey hoodie, eyes drooping behind uncut bangs, head leaning on folded arms, I appeared the cliche of a bored teenage boy, on the verge of daydreaming his way into a more exciting life.
By Ellen Stedfeld4 days ago in Fiction
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.