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Shark Conservation: Get Involved

Sharks evoke strong emotions. But whether the sight of a Great White, like the beautiful specimen featured in SeaWeb's recent Super Bowl video, makes you shudder with terror or shiver with awe, there is one feeling sharks should definitely inspire in you: concern for their future. For the first time in their ancient history (the earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago), sharks are seriously threatened - and without these top predators, ocean ecosystems could become seriously unbalanced.

Global conservation of sharks can be successful - but only with the support of everyone. While the efforts of stakeholders like scientists, policy makers, restaurateurs, and conservationists are critical, every one of us can help sharks.  Here are some ideas on how:

• Be a conscious consumer and flex your spending power
• Voice your opinion
• Support responsible dive tourism
• Work with organizations that promote sound policy and effective education to support conservation efforts
• Find out what your government is doing for sharks
• Educate yourself
• Help spread the word
• Share your shark stories, photos, questions or comments
• Sign up to receive our Ocean Update e-newsletter to stay current on ocean issues
• Support SeaWeb's work

1) Be a conscious consumer and flex your spending power.

• Avoid goods that are made from shark products that encourage the unsustainable fishing of sharks.  Shark products may be used in jewelry, art, leather products, and medicinal products, cosmetics and vitamin supplements among other things. 
• Educate yourself about the threats of eating shark meat. As a top predator, sharks accumulate high concentrations of mercury in their tissue that can be harmful to humans. Pregnant or nursing women and children are particularly susceptible to neurotoxins. Read more from KidSafe Seafood.
• Eat responsibly. According to calculations, up to 73 million sharks are killed for their fins annually, which is decimating shark populations. Chefs are comping up with creative ways to bypass the fins while keeping this long-standing tradition alive.
• Choose seafood that is fished sustainably. Many popular seafood species like shrimp and tuna are caught using methods with high levels of bycatch, incidentally catching and injuring or killing millions of sharks every year. Ask your vendor exactly what species you are purchasing, where it was caught, and how it was caught to make sure you are getting the best, most sustainable product. For more information on what species to look for, check Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.

Drying shark fins. Credit: Mohd Halimi Abdullah/Marine Photobank

2) Voice your opinion. If you know an establishment that provides goods or services that compromises shark conservation, like serving shark fin soup, ask to speak with the manager or owner. Ask why the item is on the menu and provide facts about the shark fin trade. Sharing your concerns is an important first step.

3) Support responsible dive tourism. Visit sites like Beqa Lagoon, Fiji that pay fishermen to keep sharks alive, resulting in “shark sanctuaries.”  Find out how your dive shop is supporting shark conservation, or educate shop managers about it.

4) Work with organizations that promote sound policy and effective education to support conservation efforts. Check out:

• Shark Advocates International
• Shark Angels
• Shark Life
• Shark Savers
• Shark Trust

5) Find out what your government is doing for sharks. Voice your support for productive conservation policies or urge your policymakers to implement protective measures in your city or country.

6) Educate yourself about the issue. Learn what science and policy circles are advocating. Read what others are doing to promote conservation.

7) Help spread the word. Share information with friends and family to build a wide network of informed, supportive advocates.

• Follow Seaweb on Twitter and Facebook for news and updates on ocean issues.
• View and share photos of sharks in our Marine Photobank.
• Host a screening of Shark Water.
• Start a blog with relevant news stories about shark conservation and shark scientists (e.g.- www.thedorsalfin.com).

Hammerhead shark off of the Galapagos Islands. Credit: Nelson Martinez Munoz

8) Share your shark stories, photos, questions or comments. Tell us what you have done in your community, or what information you’d like to know about sharks. 

9) Sign up to receive our Ocean Update e-newsletter to stay current on ocean issues. Ocean Update highlights key marine news, issues and science as well as unique features on SeaWeb's website. Sign up here.

10) Support SeaWeb's work. Your gift will help ensure the health of our ocean and the future of our planet. Donate today.