SHARKS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
“I neglected sharks for too long, assuming that there were already plenty of conservationists and artists protecting and making art about them. However, the reality is that I have seen sharks in the wild only once, and hundreds of times on menus and store shelves. So, after all, perhaps, there is still a place for me and you to have a say and part in shark conservation." - Sofiya Shukhova
Why Are SHARKS Important?
We often hear about how sharks are apex predators keeping the ocean ecosystem in balance. This is true for some species of sharks and is a good reason to conserve them all and keep their populations healthy.
With more than 500 known species of sharks in the oceans, not all sharks are apex predators. Different species of sharks exist at both benthic as well as pelagic levels of the ocean and some species are more critically endangered than others.
For some communities, sharks hold great cultural value. For example, Indigenous surfers in Australia have been known to hold great reverence for sharks and understand the dangers that come with shark encounters, hence having a deeper relationship and appreciation for sharks. They consider sharks as mythical creatures and deem them worthy of protection.
Shark parts and derivatives are used in food, entertainment, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other industries. Although most of us could easily survive without the use of shark products, other people’s livelihood directly depends on sharks.
Shark ecotourism, including diving and snorkeling, can benefit the economy and provide an alternative livelihood for coastal communities, including ex-shark fishermen.
Traded shark species study #2
what are the challenges facing SHARKS?
Sharks face a great many threats, from overfishing and the effect of destructive fishing methods, to habitat and prey loss, pollution, and human disturbance. It would be easier to name the challenges they do not face.
Sharks are caught and traded both legally and illegally for food, medicine, curio/souvenir, cosmetics and other industries. Although more and more regulations, like CITES, are put in place to regulate the shark trade, legal trade can be unsustainable too and lead to population decrease.
Even when not targeted, sharks are still affected by the seafood industry as they often become victims of by-catch and other destructive fishing practices, including long-lines, trawling, gill-netting, and blast or cyanide fishing.
In addition, sharks tend to reproduce slowly, which makes them even more vulnerable to fishing and by-catch pressure.
Although sharks are likely to be less vulnerable to climate change, with changing ocean conditions, they may shift their range and/or expand into new habitats.
Pollution, including plastic, plastic-associated toxins, and other pollutants, poses yet another serious threat to sharks and other creatures in the ocean.
Human activities, including fishing, diving, snorkeling and feeding can cause distressed behavioral changes in sharks.
Sharks, in particular those species living in coastal areas, are also affected by habitat loss.
what can WE do to help?
STUDY Sharks
There is plenty of information about sharks out there about how we can help. Here are my suggestions:
Learn more about them by reading books, studying scientific papers, and watching documentaries about their biology and behaviors.
Spend some time to better understand all the various threats that sharks are facing today and their complexity.
Follow shark scientists and conservation groups online.
Be mindful of what you read and watch, some writers do not use science-based information.
celebrate sharks
Talk sharks! Share with your family, friends, and colleagues fun facts about these misunderstood creatures.
Support artists who use their craft to raise awareness about sharks.
Create your own work about sharks, the challenges they are facing, and conservation solutions.
Share your art, works of writing, research, and conservation projects. Share them with us and the world on social media by using #CreatureConserve #SharkArt hashtags when posting.
protect sharks
Be mindful when you choose your food. If you are consuming seafood and cannot find the species’ name on the packaging or menu, ask for clarifications and proper labeling.
Check your cosmetics and medicine for shark products, so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to buy them in the future, or switch to a more shark-friendly option.
When traveling, support ecotourism initiatives that focus on supporting provides an alternative livelihood for those previously engaged in the shark trade. The Dorsal Effect is one example of such an initiative.
Reduce your plastic waste and try to go zero-waste whenever possible.
Donate to organizations that support shark conservation and research, their habitat protection, and who work with communities depending on sharks.
We thank Kathy Xu from the Dorsal Effect for helping to provide content for this page.
TEXT AND Artworks by sofiya shukhova.