GEOG 304 Research Paper: Shark Finning

Sharks play a vital role in the oceans in a way that the average fish does not. Most sharks serve as top predators at the marine food pyramid, and so play a critical role in ocean ecosystems. Directly or indirectly they regulate the natural balance of these ecosystems, at all levels, and so are an integral part of them. As they usually hunt old, weak or sick prey, they help to keep the prey population in good condition, healthy and strong, enabling these more naturally fit animals to reproduce and pass on their genes. The effects of removing sharks from ocean ecosystems, although complex and rather unpredictable, are very likely to be ecologically and economically damaging. Here are some reason why killing sharks is very bad:

Can sharks, the predator of the oceans and humans swim safety together? No they can not, humans and sharks need to be separated and humans protected. I do not want to see anymore lives taken by a shark. The way to stop this is to have shark nets at our swimming beaches.

How much do you really know about the hammerhead shark? Most people assume a shark is a shark, but there are many different types of sharks all with their own distinct qualities. However, the nine species of hammerhead sharks are easily identified by the unique shape of their head which resembles a hammer and is the origin of their name. Hammerheads are cold-blooded mammals that can grow up to 25 feet in length and weight as much as 1000 lbs. One of the most interesting features besides the shape of their heads is the fact that they have a 360 degree view, meaning they can see above and below them at the same time. Hammerheads are definitely an interesting mammal.

This essay will be exploring rouge sharks and will be expressing an informed opinion on why they should be conserved in most of the situations. In this essay points that will be discussed will be not limited to how sharks kill a relatively small amount of people, that sharks do not enjoy eating people and that.

Sharks are enormous mammals that live within the deep ocean waters all over the world. There are several different sharks in many parts of the world depending on temperature, seasons, food and more. Every shark is unique in their own way and every species is unique as well. Although humans view them as vicious creatures that are out to harm us while we are at the beach on a sunny Sunday, these creatures are just trying to live like any other animal in this planet. They each have different defense mechanisms, and physical features that all them to live and continue reproducing. For example, sharks have different type of dorsal fins, teeth, hunting strategies, movement patters, and mating techniques. All of this is important to the survival

In the New York Times, on Sept. 28, 2014, Lewis Pugh writes an editorial called “Swimming Through Garbage.” He describes his experiences traveling into the seven seas and makes a claim to draw attention towards the health of our oceans.

Hammerhead sharks are carnivore because they eat meat much as fish species. They will eat fish to regain their energy because they use most of it swimming. They also use energy by using their sense of smell that allows them to detect blood. When a shark reaches a point when they can’t use any more energy, they will go deep into the ocean and stay there. Their preys won’t spot them as easily when they are deep in the ocean.

Regardless of my young age or naiveness, I knew more than enough to understand to never want to be anywhere near such a dangerous, powerful, frightening, yet elegant creatures. This rather strange fear was brought on once I read a book about a child that was attacked by a shark. I enjoyed the book quite a bit, but it still scared me. The beast was approximately fifteen to sixteen inches and swimming as gracefully as a princess dancing at a royal ball. Contemplating why I fear these animals so much, it’s thick and rough skin brushed against my leg. Claire analyzed the situation well enough and placed her hand over my mouth so my screaming would not cause the shark to get defensive and

Hammerhead sharks are an interesting species of shark. They carry an odd appearance with their “hammer” shaped heads, which is much different than all other species of shark. Most scientists suggest that the earliest ancestor of hammerhead sharks appeared about twenty-million years ago in the Miocene Era. There were two other lineages of sharks that actually broke off from the hammerhead, the winghead shark and the bonnethead shark. Hammerheads are a smaller type of shark, so it is accepted that larger hammerheads evolved and got smaller, while smaller ones evolved independently.

Growing up, I often found inspiration snorkeling in the Florida Keys. Each trip, I entered an ever-changing resilient ecosystem of vibrant, vivacious sea life. However, in recent years, nonnative lionfish have invaded the entire East Coast devastating our coral reefs. Because they have no natural predators in the Atlantic Ocean, lionfish have almost completely depleted our oceans of juvenile fish, creating a major food shortage for native fish. If no action is taken, the future of our coral reefs over the next 50 years looks alarmingly grim

Human beings can be attacked by sharks. Most shark attacks are caused by particular shark species. They include Carcharodon carcharias, Galeocerdo cuvier, and the Carcharhinus leucas. Historically, shark attacks are on the decline following increased global awareness on the menace. Shark attacks are most common in the United States waters than the rest of the world because of difference in climatic

These predators will eat fish, dolphins, turtles, birds, and other sharks. Bull sharks have a specific technique when they stalk. It is called the bump and bite method, and begins with the shark bumping its prey to disorientate and/or kill. They will then impale its lower jaw into its target, and then swing its head side-to-side with its upper jaw to take tissue from its victim(sharks.org). Sometimes, the sharks will hunt in groups. Bull sharks are territorial and is likely the cause for human attacks. When encountering a bull shark, you will most likely see a remora attached. Bull sharks are near threatened.

In the article about the shark attack in South Africa by ESPN, the article talks about surfing professional Mick Fanning’s unbelievable escape from a great white shark attack. Mick Fanning and Julian Wilson were competing in the J-Bay Open in Jeffrey’s Bay in South Africa. As the men were swimming out into the bay on their surf boards Fanning’s board was attacked by the great white shark. The shark grabbed the cord by Fanning’s ankle. Fanning was dragged off the board and into the water, but he kicked, punched and screamed at the shark and took his ankle cord off. This they believe saved his life. The shark swam away and the boats were able to rescue Fanning without any scratches. It is a miracle that he was not hurt or killed.

Humans are afraid of sharks for various reasons. Some of those reasons are the shark’s size. Humans tend to be afraid of bigger animals, especially when they are known to have killed humans in the past, which is another reason humans are afraid of sharks. One other reason humans are afraid of sharks is because sharks have been misunderstood and they have been portrayed as something they’re not. There are over four hundred species of sharks in the ocean and sharks are considered the most dangerous animals in the ocean. Most people confuse them as being human-killers.

According to world wildlife organisation, overfishing occurs when more fish are caught than the population can replace through natural reproduction. Gathering as many fish as possible may seem like a profitable practice, but overfishing has serious consequences. The results may not only affect the balance of life in the oceans, but also the social and economic well-being of the coastal communities who depend on fish for their way of life.