Not the Enemy

     Nearly 100 million sharks are killed every year. They are fished out of the ocean, their fins are hacked off while still alive, then they are thrown overboard to drown, bleed to death, be eaten, or all three. This slaughter is having detrimental effects to shark populations and the ecosystem as a whole. Coral reefs are dying, oceans are becoming unhealthy, and a large reason for that is because of shark finning. Sharks are vital to the ecosystem. They are not mindless, blood thirsty, killing machines. They are magnificent, beautiful, respectable creatures. There are about 100 shark attacks per year, almost half of those being provoked (meaning a human instigated the interaction), and in that about 5 deaths. Vending machines are almost three times more deadly than sharks at about 13 deaths per year! Sharks are vital, beautiful, and in great danger. So please, do not be silent if you know of a place using shark products. We are the only ones that can save sharks from disappearing. Remember, sharks are not the enemy.