HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SHARKS?
Feared and respected but cruelly hunted and harmed, we see sharks as ruthless predators. In reality, as a result of human action, several species are threatened with extinction. Yet, sharks are key actors of the marine ecosystem, helping maintain the balance. Friend of the Sea wants you to know the importance of protecting them.
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o other species from the animal kingdom has starred in so many Hollywood films, such as sharks (more than 180, to be precise). From Jaws to Megalodon and Sharknado, most of them picture sharks as brutal creatures. However, over the past decades, it’s humans who have cornered sharks, putting them under the threat of extinction. 16
Overfishing, shark finning, and bycatch are responsible for killing more than 100 million sharks a year. An alarming figure, especially considering some shark species have a slow reproduction cycle, taking a very long time for them to recover. According to the IUCN Red List, more than 300 shark and ray species are classified as endangered, including the famous white shark, the whale shark, and the hammerhead. For this reason, Friend of the Sea invites everyone to join the efforts to protect them, starting with getting the facts right. DIVERSE AND INDISPENSABLE There are more than 500 species of sharks in the ocean. They come in all sizes and colours. For example, a great white shark can reach up to 6
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
meters long. However, half of all shark species measure less than one-meter long. Some feed on plankton and tiny fish, while others prefer bigger prey, such as seals or sea lions. Apex predator sharks play a crucial role in the ecosystem, helping maintain the balance in many ways. But, as much as we like to imagine, they’re not fond of hunting humans. Instead, sharks tend to attack people out of curiosity or because they feel threatened. In 2020, there were 57 confirmed unprovoked attacks worldwide, resulting in 10 deaths, according to an international database. WHO’S THE PREDATOR? It’s rather humans who have hunted down shark sin an unsustainable way, bringing www.lancmag.com
