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Existentialist1844
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by Existentialist1844 » Sat Jul 04, 2009 3:48 am
Threats to sharks are nothing new. For years, scientists have been saying that these ancient fish are in danger of going extinct as many are caught by accident, or on purpose just for their fins, and populations are decimated.
Now a new warning from the International Union for Conservation of Nature states that nearly a third of sharks and rays are threatened with extinction. The analysis of 64 species of ocean sharks and rays found 32 percent are at risk, including the great white shark.
An estimated 38 million sharks are killed for their fins each year. Sharks, meanwhile, kill very few people (despite the myth that they're very deadly).
If sharks go, the ocean food chain could crumble, experts have warned. Top predators are key to keeping populations of key species from growing too large. If sharks die off, you could have a food chain Whac-a-Mole, scientists say.
At least one exception to the dire situation: The biggest sharks of all, whale sharks, are thriving off the coast of western Australia.
I am disheartened by this news.
"Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength."
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Beelzebub2
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by Beelzebub2 » Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:18 am
The link/
the link for the post above.
Apparently Mako Sharks are the most endangered of all sharks - according to the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) they are within the top 10 most endangered species:
The Mako Shark is highly sought for its tender meat, and especially in Asian markets, for their shark fins which have even greater value for medicinal purposes. Some of the species are merely stripped of their prized fins by the international fishing fleets and then are thrown back into the depths, left to die.
Fins are now among the world's most expensive fisheries products. Values vary according to color, size, and thickness of fins. In Hong Kong, shark fin soup can fetch almost US$100 for a single serving, and wholesale pricing for fins can range from a low of US$40 to more than US$550 per kilo. As with most shark species, Mako Sharks are particularly susceptible to overfishing because they have long life cycles, resulting in the species being fished twice as fast as they are able to produce. Mako Sharks mature in seven to twelve years and only then produce small litters of baby sharks in their lifetime.
The Link
Last edited by
Beelzebub2 on Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Gawdzilla Sama
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by Gawdzilla Sama » Sat Jul 04, 2009 10:36 am
Life was more interesting when the big guy roamed the seas. :sad:
http://www.greenwayentertainment.com/3_ ... lodon2.gif[/imgc]
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