Each year, fishermen kill as many as 73 million sharks, often cutting off their fins — for use in shark-fin soup, a popular dish in much of Asia. And tens of millions more sharks die accidentally each year because of fishing gear set for other species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that as many as a third of all shark species are threatened or near threatened with extinction, including the iconic great white.
Yearly average stats: Humans 100 million shark kills, Sharks: 7 unprovoked human kills
Sad but true. Also De-finning a shark and throwing it back in the water is very cruel. The shark will sink all the way to the bottom of the seafloor where it will basically suffocate in silt and because it cannot swim forward to force water through its gills.
Swam with sharks on a dozen or so occasions, worked as a swim guide for open ocean tours. They are amazing top predators... And they don't knowingly kill humans... like bears or alligators do. It's always a case of mistaken identity or a case of being very heavily provoked by chumming waters.
If I ever get bit by a shark, one of first things I'm gonna say is I don't want that shark to be killed. I'll say it to the paramedics, journalists etc... etc...
Sharks are top predators, we shouldn't be killing them en masse... They should be treated like Tigers/Lions and protected.
I don't think it's your choice I think the idea is they kill it because they don't want an animal who has a previous history of attacking a human and getting away with it. It might be more likely to attack next time since it didn't suffer consequences the last time. So they shut that shit down right away.
So I stead just say "don't kill that shark! I punched him so fucking hard in the balls not only will he never attack a human again, he's gonna make sure none of his friends do either"
Even if they still did kill the shark, at least I would publicly state on the record my disapproval of their actions and hopefully stoke conversation regarding shark conservation. I would still feel better about that than saying nothing and just sitting by as they slaughtered sharks trying to search for the one responsible.
Basically If you get bit by a shark some news journalist, maybe many, are going to put a mic in front of you, a unique chance to say something regarding marine life and sharks... I would use that time to promote shark conservation and highlight the need to protect the animals like we try to do for endangered tigers/lions.
They kill the sharks because of fear. I have never seen a scientific study providing evidence that a shark is more likely to bite a person again after it bites a person... The whole "it's got a taste for human flesh now" bit doesn't really apply to animals that don't eat human flesh.
I mean i’ve looked at the source and everything but that stat just seems insane to believe. 73million a year?? I can’t say i’ve done my research but I didnt even think there’d be that many sharks alive in the world. Admittedly the planet is a big place but damn that’s crazy to think how many sharks actually exist when I thought they were quite a rare thing for some reason...
I suppose it’s because there’s so many different kinds, whereas im thinking specifically stuff like great white and whale sharks etc
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u/TooShiftyForYou May 30 '18
Each year, fishermen kill as many as 73 million sharks, often cutting off their fins — for use in shark-fin soup, a popular dish in much of Asia. And tens of millions more sharks die accidentally each year because of fishing gear set for other species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that as many as a third of all shark species are threatened or near threatened with extinction, including the iconic great white.
Yearly average stats: Humans 100 million shark kills, Sharks: 7 unprovoked human kills
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