Sharks: The Apex Predators of the Ocean

Aquatic food chain

Trophic Cascade

An apex predator is a carnivore that, in a specific environment, has few or no predators of its own (What Eats 2014). In the ocean, this is the shark. Sharks can feed on large animals without worrying about being attacked. This allows them to sit comfortably at the top of the food chain and in the center of the food web (What Eats 2014). When sharks are removed because of finning the rest of the ecosystem is thrown off balance, which is known as a trophic cascade. A trophic cascade causes population imbalance in other species in the ecosystem (Carpenter 2014). In this case, a decrease in the apex predators leads to an increase in the next trophic level, usually large mammals or fish, which are typically shark’s prey. The graphic on the right shows that with the removal of sharks, the next trophic level, seals, overpopulate and this destroys the lower trophic level. This pattern continues until the producer’s trophic level is either diminished or thriving. It is difficult to determine which level will vary because the number of trophic levels can vary in different ecosystems. It can be noted in both of the graphics that the ecosystem has a very fragile balance, and that every species from sharks to phytoplankton relies on the other to keep this in check. The removal of the apex predator can reshape the entire environment from top to bottom (Carpenter 2014). If we are not careful the lack of sharks will disrupt the natural order of the ocean.

Works Cited:

Carpenter, S. (2014) Trophic Cascade. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2014.) http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1669736/trophic-cascade.

  

What Eats. (2011) Apex Predators. What Eats? What Eats? (Date Accessed: February 20, 2014.) http://www.whateats.com/?s=shark.

Shark Fin Soup: The Healthy Choice?

Doctors and medical experts are people who oppose the shark fin trade for purely health reasons. Health organizations and doctors have often warned against the consumption of shark fin soup. Though many believe that shark fin soup can improve health, fight cancer, and prevent heart disease, new research suggests just the opposite (The Telegraph 2011). Eating shark fin soup can be hazardous to human health, as sharks tend to contain mercury due to excessive pollution in the water (Shark Savers 2014). Specifically, sharks contain high levels of methylmercury, which is classified as a neurotoxin (Shark Savers 2014). In fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has warned against the consumption of shark fin soup for small children and women, as the toxin is known to cause infertility (Shark Savers 2014). Also, shark fins contain BMAA, which is another neurotoxin that has been linked to Alzheimers disease and Lou Gehrig disease or ALS (Science Daily 2012).

Before serving shark fin soup, some restaurants treat shark fins with hydrogen peroxide in order to make their color more appealing to consumers (Stop Shark Finning 2013). Though the concentration is normally diluted, hydrogen peroxide can cause nausea and, in some cases, a stroke (Nutrition Facts 2014). The health risks of consuming shark fin soup far outweigh the supposed benefits, and doctors believe that it is in the best interest of patients to avoid consumption of the dish.

Effects of Mercury

Works Cited:

Nutrition Facts. (2014) Can you take hydrogen peroxide internally? Nutrition Facts. Nutrition Facts. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2014.) http://nutritionfacts.org/questions/can-you-take-hydrogen-peroxide-internally/.

Science Daily. (2012) Neurotoxins in shark fins: A human health concern, 

Science Daily. Science Daily. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2014.) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120223182516.htm.

Shark Savers. (2014) Shark Fin Soup Is Not Healthy. I’m Finished with Fins. SharkSavers, Inc. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2014.) https://www.sharksavers.org/en/our-programs/i-m-finished-with-fins/learn-more/shark-fin-soup-is-unhealthy/.

Stop Shark Finning. (2013). Shark fin soup facts. Stop Shark Finning. Stop Shark Finning. (Date Accessed: February 19, 2014.) http://www.stopsharkfinning.net/shark-fin-soup-facts/

The Telegraph. (2011) Shark fin soup prized as a cure-all. The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2014.) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8746046/Shark-fin-soup-prized-as-a-cure-all.html.

Shark Fin Soup: A Cultural Norm

In Asian cultures, particularly China, the practice of shark finning is not problematic, as it is necessary in order to serve shark fin soup as a symbol of wealth and status. Shark fin soup is especially a symbol of generosity among older generations(Shark Truth 2014). These generations are filled with people who immigrated to various countries, such as the United States, in pursuit of a better life. Though many of these people fell on difficult economic times at the begin of their lives, affording and providing shark fin soup for their families at special events is also a symbol of pride. Not only is it thought to promote wealth, but shark fin soup has supposed health benefits, and many believe that it has the ability to increase lifespan (Schneider 2011). Shark fin soup is not viewed as problematic, especially by older generations in China. Thus the shark fin trade is not inhumane or troublesome, as it facilitates a centuries-old tradition.

Traditional Shark Fin Soup

Works Cited:

Schneider, A. (2011) Shark Fin Soup: War of Culture, Politics, Business. Food Safety News. Food Safety News. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2014.) http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/06/shark-fin-soup-a-cultural-war-environmental-nightmare-and-multi-million-dollar-business/#.UwdS20JdWUB

Shark Truth. (2014). Shark Fin Trade. Shark Truth. Shark Truth. (Date Accessed: February 19, 2014.) http://www.sharktruth.com/learn/shark-finning/

Shark's Best Friends: The Conservationist and Activist Perspective

People Against Shark Finning

Conservationists and activists strongly disagree with the practice of shark finning for several reasons. First and foremost, shark finning is an inhumane practice. Once caught, sharks’ bodies are not used efficiently, as only the fin is severed from the body while the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean to drown or to be eaten by fish (Stop Shark Finning 2013). Also, shark finning can lead to ecological disasters. Due to the growing popularity of shark finning, particularly in Asian waters, sharks are not able to reproduce as fast as they are being hunted, which could lead to extinction. According to The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, approximately one in three sharks are threatened by that fate (PETA 2012). Following the extinction of sharks, the entire ecosystem of the ocean would be thrown off-balance. Sharks are considered apex predators, meaning that they are at the top of the food chain. Sharks control overpopulation of their prey, such as fish, and if extinct, they would not be able to maintain the very delicate balance (Shark Water 2012). The goal of a conservationist focuses on the preservation the diversity of an ecosystem, and animal activists wish to protect all species from unnecessary harm. Shark finning threatens both of these practices, as it not only puts sharks at risk, but it endangers an entire ecosystem. In order to prevent this, many activist organizations, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are encouraging people not to buy the soup and spread the message (PETA 2012).

Works Cited:

PETA. (2012) ‘Free the Sharks’ Week 2012. PETA. PETA. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2014.) http://www.peta.org/features/free-sharks-week-2012/.

Stop Shark Finning. (2013) Shark Fin Soup what’s the scoop? Stop Shark Finning. Stop Shark Finning. (Date Accessed: February20, 2014.) http://www.stopsharkfinning.net/shark-fin-soup-whats-the-scoop/. 
Shark Water. (2012). Education Shark Finning Facts. Shark Water. Sharkwater Productions. (Date Accessed: February 19, 2014.) http://www.sharkwater.com/education.htm

Shark Finning is Destroying the Livelihood of Small-Scale Fishermen

Small-scale fishermen in Asian countries are one group of people that are very opposed to shark finning. Many fishermen around the world are falling on difficult economic times. In the commercial fishing business, fisherman must be able to catch a certain number of fish a day, otherwise they will not make a profit. They are unable to do so in some cases when there are not fish to catch. Some "artisanal" fisherman who choose to participate in the shark finning trade are also put into an unfair situation, as they are in competition with much larger finning vessels. For example, at the height of the shark fin trade, which was around 2005, there were upwards of 150 foreign and large-scale fisheries positioned in East Asia with the primary intention of participating in the shark fin trade (Shark Savers 2014). Also, Shark finning is not a sustainable industry. In both the case of a small-scale fisherman, and a small-scale "artisanal" fisherman, the large global shark fin trade is detrimental to their livelihood. For the small fisherman, the excessive hunting of sharks, and the resulting population boom of large mammals and fish, has led to a decrease in smaller fish that fishermen rely on to make a living. Also, for the "artisanal" fisherman, the large-scale fisheries make the shark fin industry unpredictable. For example, in 2005, after the industry started becoming wildly successful in some parts of the world such as West Africa, it declined by 50% over the following three years (Shark Savers 2014). Smaller fishermen, whether directly or indirectly impacted by the actions of large-scale fisheries, oppose the global shark fin trade, as it has been disastrous toward their livelihoods.

Small-Scale Shark Finning

Works Cited:

Shark Savers. (2014) Finning and the Fin Trade. Shark Savers. Shark Savers Inc. (Date Accessed: February 19, 2014.) http://tinyurl.com/kttsq9v.

Shark Finning: The Shocking Truth

Population Cycles Could Lead to Extinction

Shark Extinction

Shark finning could lead to extinction of sharks for another reason: shark reproductive cycles cannot compete with the rapid rate of shark finning. For some types of sharks, reproduction can take up to three and a half years (Shark Savers 2014). This only occurs after full maturation, which, especially for sharks involved in the shark fin trade, can take as long as 25 years (FAO 2014). Even then, most sharks do not produce more than 10-15 pups at a time (Du Plessis 2014). With increasingly efficient tools to practice shark finning, and the inefficient length of shark reproduction cycles, many experts predict that within the next decade sharks will become endangered and eventually extinct. For example, organizations such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature have already put 18 species of sharks on the endangered species list (Sea Shepherd 2012).

Works Cited:

Du Plessis, W. (2014) Sharks Info. Sharks-Introduction. Sharks Info. Sharks Info. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2014.) http://www.sharksinfo.com/

FAO Corporate Document Repository. (2013) Biological characteristics and reproductive potential of sharks. FAO Corporate Document Repository. FAO. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2014.) http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x2352e/x2352e06.htm.

Sea Shepherd. (2012) The Brutal Business of Shark Finning. Sea Shepard. Sea Shepard Conservation Society. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2014.) http://www.seashepherd.org/sharks/shark-finning.html

Shark Savers. (2014) Finning and the Fin Trade. Shark Savers. Shark Savers Inc. (Date Accessed: February 19, 2014.) http://tinyurl.com/kttsq9v.

Budding Solutions

Hong Kong controls about half of the trade

In recent years the crack down on the shark fin trade has been intensifying. Solutions like government intervention and athlete studded campaigns have aided in the ban of shark finning. Government officials across the world have passed plans in their communities to rid the trade of shark fins from their markets. In December 2010, the US government passed a law stating that all fins must be landed with the body still intact (Eilperin 2010). Conservationists have faith that this ban will make as much of an impact as an earlier ban which decreased shark finning 93% between 2000 and 2006 (Eilperin 2010). Earlier this year Chinese government cracked down on the serving of shark fin soup at official banquets. In previous years, China has gotten famous athletes such as Yao Ming to support the ban of shark fin soup (WildAid 2011). Ming states, “‘I urge China to lead by banning shark fin soup, and I urge business leaders to end the consumption of shark fin soup at business events. Unless we act now, we will lose many shark populations, impacting our oceans worldwide’” (WildAid 2011). This campaign has greatly reduced the consumption of the soup. Beijing’s Lianhong Marine Dry Products Market states that business has gone down by 70% and that prices of a half-kilo of the product have gone down from $165 to $110 to clear the shelves (WildAid 2011). Hong Kong controls about a half of the global shark fin trade, which is between $400 million and $550 million (Guilford 2013). When the market in Hong Kong starts to decrease, so will the rest of the world's intake and trade as well.   

Works Cited: 

Eilperin, J. (2010). Congress passes shark protection bill. The Washington Post. The Washington Post Company. (Date Accessed: February 19, 2014.) http://tinyurl.com/28kne5v.

Guilford, G. (2013) New York’s ban on the illegal shark fin trade won’t do much to protect sharks. Quartz. Quartz. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2014.) http://qz.com/109052/why-new-yorks-ban-on-the-illegal-shark-fin-trade-may-do-nothing-to-reduce-it/

WildAid. (2011) Yao Ming Calls for a Shark Fin Ban in China. WildAid. WildAid. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2014.) http://www.wildaid.org/news/yao-ming-calls-shark-fin-ban-china.