5 reasons to celebrate sharks
Shark Awareness Day 2023
How much do you really know about sharks? If we base our knowledge of sharks on how they are depicted in movies, they are mindless killing machines, but this is far from true. Sharks are awe-inspiring creatures that play an indispensable role in our planet's ecosystems. On July 14th, join us as we celebrate Shark Awareness Day, an event that aims to replace fear with fascination and respect for these incredible marine animals. Let's dive in and explore fascinating facts about sharks, the current threats to their existence, and how we can all help to ensure their survival.
1. They are older than Mount Everest, trees and dinosaurs.
Based off of fossilised scales, scientists have proof that sharks have been on the planet for more than 420 million years and survived four of the “big five” mass extinctions. This makes them older than Mount Everest, trees and dinosaurs! Over time, sharks diversified, sparking the evolution of so many species.
2. There are over 500 species of sharks!
When we think of sharks, our minds typically envision a great white. But they are just one of over 500 different species. Sharks can be found in a range of sizes and shapes, each with their own unique physical and behavioural characteristics. There are tiny dwarf lantern shark as small as your hand, hammerhead sharks built to hunt stingrays, frilled sharks perfectly evolved for the deep sea, and great white sharks keeping the ecosystem in balance.
3. Their bodies have evolved perfectly to help them survive.
Shark have sleek bodies and their skeleton is made up of cartilage. This keeps them agile and makes it easier for them to swim – which is important because a shark will sink if they stop swimming. While their skin looks smooth, it is actually covered in dermal denticles, which are tiny tooth-like scales. This makes their skin tough and resistant to bacteria, parasites, and barnacles. They also have a very acute sense of smell, with some species being able to detect one part of blood in 100 million parts of water (PDF) – that's equal to one teaspoon in an average sized swimming pool.
4. Sharks play a pivotal role in the ecosystem.
While all sharks have intrinsic values and a right to a life free from human harm, they also play a very pivotal role in the marine ecosystem. Sharks are keystone predators as they maintain stability in the food chain, ensuring other species do not become overpopulated. They help remove the weak and the sick, maintaining the genetic health of prey populations. They are also responsible for nutrient cycling, as they spread nutrients when they travel vast distances. Moreover, the presence of sharks can even shape seagrass and coral reef ecosystems. A decline in shark populations can lead to the rise of smaller predator species and an overall cascade effect on ocean ecosystems. They also serve as a key indicator for ocean health.
“All the things we have in our ecosystems are there for a reason.”
5. They are intelligent and form social groups
Despite what we may think, sharks are complex animals with unique personalities. They have been observed exhibiting problem-solving skills and learning from others! While sharks are often portrayed as solitary animals, they do display social behaviours and interactions. Some species of sharks form social groups that last years, and they forage together. They also have a complex way of communicating, which includes body language, vocalisations, and chemical signals.
Sharks are at risk due to shark finning, overfishing, habitat destruction, culling programs, shark nets and drumlines.
Despite their fearsome reputation, sharks are more threatened by humans than we are by them. Sharks are slow to mature and have few offspring, this was natures way of controlling their population numbers, but this places them at risk of extinction.
The fishing industry kills sharks.
Commercial fishing industries pose the most significant threat to sharks. Approximately 50 million sharks die annual as bycatch. Bycatch is the unwanted marine creatures that become trapped by commercial fishing nets during fishing for a different species.
Image: Brian Raymond
Sharks are targeted for their fins.
It is estimated that between 73 and 100 million sharks are killed by the fishing industry for their fins. The sharks are caught, have their fins are cut off, and their bodies are often thrown back into the ocean to die. This wasteful and inhumane practice has contributed to the decline of shark populations globally.
Image: Sea Shepherd
Their homes are being polluted and destroyed.
Ocean pollution, including plastic waste, can harm sharks directly through ingestion or entanglement, or indirectly by damaging their habitats and food sources. Coastal development can also destroy essential nursery and breeding areas for many shark species.
Their culled simply for existing.
Shark culling or “control” is the deliberate killing of sharks, sold under the guise of keeping people “safe”. These programs often kill sharks indiscriminately, while also killing non-target animals. The most common method in Australia is the use of shark Nets and drumlines. A 'shark net' is a submerged mesh net that is used to act as a “barrier”, reducing the number of sharks that come to the shore. In reality, they do not work, as sharks can swim over, under, and around the nets. Those who do become entangled, die a slow and painful death. A drumline is a baited shark fishing-hook, that hangs from a bouy to attract and catch sharks. Once hooked, the shark or other non-target animal dies a slow death. Learn more about nets and drumlines here.
Image: Envoy
Did you know you’re more likely to be injured by a toilet than by a shark?
Despite the general fear associated with sharks, the reality is that the chance of encountering a shark and being bitten is remarkably low. It is estimated that you have a 1 in 3.7 million chance of being killed by a shark – you're more likely to be struck by lightning, injured by a toilet, or die from a falling coconut.
How to stay safe in the ocean.
Avoid swimming at dawn, dusk, or night when sharks are most active.
Avoid areas where prey animals are present.
Stay in groups, as sharks are more likely to interact with solitary individuals.
Don't wear shiny jewellery because the reflected light resembles the shimmering of fish scales.
Wear a shark deterrent bracelet when you’re in the water. While this do not provide 100% reduction in interactions, it emits magnetic waves that disrupt a shark’s electro-receptors.
Together, we can create a kinder world for sharks.
Shark Awareness Day serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving these incredible creatures and their habitats. Sharks are not our enemies; they are vital parts of the ecological puzzle that sustains life on Earth. By recognising their importance, we can work together to protect them from the dangers they face, ensuring the health and diversity of our understanding these threats is the first step in mitigating them.
You can help sharks by leaving:
Raising awareness about sharks and their importance to the environment.
