Page 69 - World of Animals - Book of Sharks & Ocean Predators

Steve Backshall
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Sharks under attack

73 100 12-15 $700 1-2 $470 30-50

MILLION
of the film Jaws, which million
50% million MILLION YEARS PER KG Gross income worldwide

Percentage of UK Number of pups is believed to have Number of sharks killed
shark species listed Killed for shark Number of sharks Time for sharks to reach Average cost of a shark usually contributed to the bad by being caught up in
as threatened fin soup each year killed each year their reproductive age a shark fin gives birth to reputation of sharks nets and lines

Why we should be saving

sharks instead of fearing them

They are endangered because of us Their ecosystem needs them They keep our oceans healthy
It is actually sharks that should fear humans and Sharks play a hugely important role in their The ocean is the world’s most important
not the other way around. While only six people ecosystem. They maintain a balance by keeping ecosystem. It provides a third of the world
were killed by shark attacks in 2014, millions of populations of other species level and because with food, produces more oxygen than all the
sharks are killed every year by human activity. they prey on the weakest animals, they control world’s rainforests put together and controls the
The large, shallow water species, such as angel the spread of disease and improve the gene planet’s climate. Sharks dying out would have a
sharks, are under the greatest threat. pool for future generations. devastating effect on the ocean ecosystem.

What is being done
to protect these
amazing fish
There are a number of
organisations working
to protect the future of
sharks. The Shark Trust
has been dedicated to shark
conservation since it was
founded in 1997. Their No Limits Campaign
aims to stop uncontrolled shark fishing by
working to secure science-based catch limits
for shark species. So far limits have been
imposed for species such as the spiny dogfish,
and most skates and rays. However, there is ABOVE
still work to be done for species like the blue The common skate
shark, shortfin mako, tope, smooth-hound has been legally
protected from
and catshark. The Trust has also been heavily fishing in the UK
involved in campaigning to stop shark finning. since 2009
Although a ban on shark finning was adopted
in European waters, it is still legal to buy and
sell shark fins in most countries, and the
Trust is working with governments to tighten
regulations and ensure compliance. Their Bite
Back campaign aims to stop restaurants in the
UK selling shark fin soup. © Alamy; FLPA; Nature PL; Thinkstock
WWW.SHARKTRUST.ORG
Find out more about the Shark Trust or add your
voice to the campaign.

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