Sperm whales have been believed to attack sharks, as well. Sharks are known to be at the top of the food chain, however, orcas (killer whales) are known to kill great white sharks. The hammerhead sharks almost exclusively eat rays, which belong to the same family (Chondrichthyes or cartilaginous fish) as sharks. Some of the shark species listed as critically endangered include the large sawfish, the common sawfish, oceanic whitetip shark, daggernose shark, and New Guinea river shark.Įven though many shark species have specific diets, it is not uncommon for larger species, such as the great white sharks, tiger sharks, and mako sharks to eat smaller shark species in addition to fishes, seals, sea lions, and dolphins. More than 10% are listed as vulnerable, and over 14% as near threatened. What shark species are the most endangered ones according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)?Īccording to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), more than 5% of shark species are endangered (2.4% of them being critically endangered). Shark meat is usually cut into steaks and fillets and prepared like meat from other large marine fish or is served fried with chips. Even though shark meat is legal for consumption in the USA, dried shark meat has become increasingly popular in many other countries (Australia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Korea, India, and others). Shark fins have high monetary and cultural value and are used in some dishes such as shark fin soup (primarily in China and Vietnam). Some sharks are killed in recreational fishing, but most of them are killed for their fins and meat. How many sharks are killed by people each year?Įvery year, people kill about 100 million sharks. In 2019, there have been noted only 64 unprovoked shark attacks around the world. The number of shark attacks is also decreasing. In the last ten years, the average number of people killed by sharks is less than five per year. How many people are killed in shark attacks per year? If you are amazed by sharks and would want to know more, keep reading! This article will answer some of the most common questions you might have about sharks and you will also read some interesting facts that may surprise you! Due to Illegal and irresponsible fishing, their population has been reduced by over 70% in the last 50 years and they are now functionally extinct in some of the reefs. In reality, sharks would much rather eat their natural prey than humans' flesh and they are the ones who are threatened by human activities. Media misrepresented them as rough sea creatures that could survive anything and it is often forgotten how vulnerable they are. Ever since they have diversified into more than 500 species. Sharks are fascinating creatures that have been around for the last 400 million years (yes, they have coexisted with the dinosaurs and outlived them). So, have you ever wondered how well we actually know sharks? There is so much more when it comes to sharks than their eating habits. But what we see in movies is not so close to the truth. Sharks help to keep a balance in the food chain.Īll of these factors play into why we need sharks and why they need to be protected.We have all seen blockbuster movies with sharks portrayed as the greatest sea monsters, thirsty for human blood. If all those other sea dwellers couldn’t get these key nutrients, the impact could be devastating to life above and below the surface. Their migration patterns as well as their travels between the depths and surface allows these nutrients to travel along with them and move through the ocean. This is true of all ocean creatures, and the larger the creature, the more carbon dioxide is kept out of the atmosphere.įinally, sharks help to move key nutrients for other ocean dwellers due to how they live. This is beneficial to us because most of the carbon and carbon dioxide in their bodies remains at the bottom of the sea with them rather than being released into the atmosphere and the air we breathe. This contributes to the overall health of the oceans.Īdditionally, sharks can act as effective carbon sinks - a phenomenon wherein when they die, they sink to the bottom of the ocean. While the predators help with population control, the bottom feeders and clean up crew work to keep our oceans clean. First, Sharks help to maintain the balance of our ocean ecosystems. And all those reasons point to the fact that the health of our oceans depends on them. There are several reasons that Sharks are important. Of the over 500 species, over 140 species of sharks are under threat and classified from ‘vulnerable’ to ‘critically endangered’. Scientists believe that sharks have been around for about 455 million years (based on fossil scales that have been uncovered).
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