Shark finning, or simply finning, is the brutal practice of hacking off a shark’s fins for food, normally used for the Asian delicacy, shark fin soup.

Once their fins are hacked off, the sharks are thrown back into the sea. They then die slowly and painfully as they starve to death, get eaten by other fish or suffocate because they cannot swim properly and enough oxygen into their gills.

Tens of millions of sharks are killed every year at a rapid speed to keep up with the demand for shark fins on the black market. This cruel practice has caused sharks to become endangered worldwide. Several species are now at a critically endangered level with almost 95% of their population killed off since the 1970s.

• Blacktip Sharks have fallen by 93%;
• Tiger Sharks by 97%;
• Bull Sharks, Dusky Sharks and Smooth Hammerheads by 99%.

Many people are unsupportive of the decline of sharks and the cruelty of finning. This is due to two factors.

1. The shark is not a ‘loveable’ animal and is unjustly seen as a monster. Because of the movie industry, notably Jaws, sharks such as the Great White are seen as vicious man-eaters. This is an unfounded stereotype used only to promote movies and television and to entertain people. Unfortunately, many people have taken this image to heart. However, when one actually reads about sharks in scientific reports, journals and articles, one finds that they do not seek out humans for food and are actually docile creatures. It has been proven that the odds of a shark killing you are extremely slim and there are many other animals much more violent and dangerous than sharks.
2. People are ignorant of the importance of sharks. Coupled with their publicity as terrifying monsters, people do not educate themselves about sharks and some are indifferent to shark finning. The consequences of the decline in sharks are dire. If sharks become extinct, the ocean will lose a key part of its eco-system. As an apex predator, the shark is integral in keeping certain populations at bay. A lack of sharks on the east coast of the USA has seen a decline in shellfish because sharks are not there to balance the small shark, ray and skate populations who mainly eat shellfish. Imagine if all lions were extinct; there would be an overpopulation of herbivores.

How you can help

Luckily, there are many compassionate people and organisations that are banding together to fight the shark fin trade, especially in the USA. In South Africa, shark finning is illegal but there are many other countries where it is not, such as Mozambique. You can aid the international campaign by visiting these sites and signing the petitions or donating money to end shark finning.

http://www.stopsharkfinning.net/anti-shark-finning-campaigns/

http://www.oceanicdefense.org/campaigns/stop-shark-finning.html

 

Shark Diving Unlimited is one organisation that, not only advocates for sharks, but uses their resources for research and conservation; educating the public on the importance of these animals. With another amazing Shark Week behind us, let us all take action and help preserve the species.

 

Sources

http://www.seashepherd.org/operation-requiem/is-shark-finning-illegal.html

http://animal.discovery.com/endangered-species/shark-finning.htm

http://www.stopsharkfinning.net/what-is-shark-finning/

 

Not only are sharks strikingly beautiful, but without sharks patrolling the seas marine ecosystems would be thrown entirely off balance. Sharks weed out weak and sickly prey, keeping other species fit. Additionally, sharks keep the ocean healthy by feeding on prey species, ensuring that they don’t become overabundant. In essence, the shark is one of evolutions most impressive success stories.

Yet, sharks are feared and in some cases ostracised. For many, the great white shark is considered a dangerous predator with a penchant for human flesh – films like Jaws and Open Water have simply perpetuated this gross misjudgement. Going shark cage diving is one of the best ways to dispel misconceptions for yourself, but due to a somewhat crippling public fear of shark attacks, preventative measures such as shark nets have become the norm in coastal areas.

As an apex predator, the great white shark has been a protected species since 2005 under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES, Appendix II) and the Convention for Migratory Species (CMS); furthermore, due to rapid population declines, the species is listed as vulnerable to extinction according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN, Category VU A1cd+2cd; Dulvy et al. 2008)

While protecting swimmers from potential shark attacks, shark nets actively injure sharks and have led to the strangulation and suffocation of all kinds of sea animals. As traditional shark nets have unquestionably caused more harm than good, an eco-friendly shark barrier called Sharksafe which will not only shield swimmers, but protect marine life too, has been developed.

The project is the result of a huge collaborative effort between the PhD candidate Craig O’Connell from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dr. Conrad Matthee and Sara Andreotti from Stellenbosch University, and Mike Rutzen of Shark Diving Unlimited. The team have been developing the Sharksafe Barrier since 2011, each contributing their areas of expertise and, in some instances, funding.

The Sharksafe Barrier is constructed from rigid pipes that emit a magnetic barrier which, when erected on the seabed, resemble seaweed. These features are effective in two ways: sharks are sensitive to magnetic fields and it will deter them from attempting to swim through the barrier, and great whites seem to particularly detest kelp and tend to avoid it – an observation made by Rutzen, who has an intimate understanding of great white behaviour.

The Sharksafe Barrier’s deployment cost which amounts to R10 000 000, is built to sustain functionality for over 10 years while withstanding up to seven metre swells and requiring a maximum of one check-up per year. Therefore, besides being environmentally friendly and long-lasting, the associated manual labour once the barrier is deployed will be minimal .

Under the guiding eye of Rutzen et al. the Sharksafe barriers have been exclusively erected at Dyer Island in Gansbaai by Shark Diving Unlimited vessels, who also offer shark cage diving. Stellenbosch University has patented the system. In the long run, it is hoped that this new alternative to shark nets may actively reduce the number of related marine life deaths and curb the few shark attacks which actually occur.