Page 60 - Shark

Shark overkill

People kill sharks for their meat,
fins, skin, and liver oil, as well as for
pure sport. Sport fishing can reduce
numbers of sharks locally, but the
biggest threat to sharks is overfishing
worldwide. Sharks, caught on long
lines and in fishing nets, are often
thrown back into the sea dead,
because it is other fish hauled in
at the same time that are wanted.
Sometimes, just the shark’s fins Angling WAlls of deAth
Drift nets (top), some 50 ft (15 m) deep and many
Angling is a popular
are removed and its body thrown sport. Fast, strong miles long, are used to catch fish. The nets are so
back. Sharks are also killed each sharks represent a fine that fish do not see them and become trapped
in the mesh. Sharks, like this oceanic white-tipped
big challenge. Today,
year in nets to protect swimmers. angling clubs are shark (above), are easily caught, along with
Compared to bony fish, sharks have becoming more aware seabirds, turtles, and dolphins.
of conservation and
a much slower rate of reproduction some are restricting
and take a long time to mature. the size of shark
that can be landed.
If too many are killed, their Increasingly, anglers
numbers may never recover. Efforts are encouraged
to release
are now being made to protect sharks sharks instead
of killing them
by creating reserves, restricting numbers (pp. 56–57).
caught, and banning fishing.

White deAth
For many anglers, the
great white (above) is
the ultimate trophy.
People are frightened
of great whites and so
kill them, but among
the sea’s predators,
these sharks are
important in keeping
the natural balance
in the ocean. Great
whites are protected
in many countries
where hunting these
sharks is banned.
International trade in
shark body parts, such
as teeth and jaws, is
also controlled.

sport or
slAughter
To show just how
many sharks were
killed, this hunter’s
boat (left) showed a
collection of the
victims’ jaws.

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