Shark Bait Oo Ha Ha!

So, who else thinks sharks are absolutely terrifying?

When people think of sharks, images that are often conjured up are violent, ugly ones. However, while these predators are definitely scary at their worst moments, they are in great danger. The Pacific Reef sharks, for example, are being fished for their fins as they can be quite expensive and used in lavish dishes such as shark fin soup. Now, while there are many other more cute and cuddly animals in danger, we should all be deeply concerned about the sharks’ well being. The Pacific reef shark is in grave danger and this is an issue because, seeing as the reef shark is the apex predator of the Pacific reefs, if the number of sharks decline, the reef ecosystem could be severely damaged. Along with this, the benefits of keeping these sharks alive greatly outweigh the benefits of killing them as they are a big help to the tourism business of many of the Pacific Islands.

As you can see in the video above, these sharks are vital for the tourism business for many of these Pacific Islands. Along with this, these sharks are important because they help maintain the reef ecosystem which is already in danger. One of my personal favorite moments from the video is the clip from 1:33-1:43 where other fish are using the shark’s mouth for food and potential protection. It is really interesting and inspiring to see how the sharks as well as other creatures depend on each other for certain things and how they can form partnerships with one another.

So, why protect these creatures that tend to strike fear in all of us whenever we see a rouge fin stick out of the water? The answer is simple. If we protect these swift animals that have ample negative connotations about them, we are able to maintain two beautiful things. First, the economies of many of these Pacific islands will be maintained. Secondly, the beautiful, colorful reefs which I personally have fond memories of witnessing first hand, will remain intact. All in all, in order to maintain these two things, I will gladly face my fears and swim with the sharks.