How many of you have tuned in to Discovery Channel’s Shark Week? For those of you who don’t know, Shark Week is a full week when only shark documentaries are shown. Not only is the goal of Shark Week to inform individuals, but it is also to raise awareness for sharks and their declining population. Because it is summer, it is likely a lot of us will take trip to the beach and be exposed to sharks. I watch shark week every year and the variety of programs presents lots of useful information on sharks and how to deal with a shark encounter. While watching Shark Week probably won’t turn you into a shark expert, it does provide some very useful tips as well as advice on how to share the ocean with these amazing creatures.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, 67 species of sharks are near threatened, 48 are vulnerable, 15 are endangered, and 11 species are critically endangered. Aside from pollution, a large portion of this decline can be credited to the fin trade. Around 73 million sharks enter the fin trade yearly. In order to retrieve the shark's fins, they are captured and their fins are sliced off as soon as they board the ship, then their bodies are thrown back into the ocean where the sharks will likely suffocate or be eaten be other ocean predators. As sharks are becoming endangered, it is also becoming even more important to know how to share the ocean with them. According to the United Nations, 60% of people live near a coast and coasts attract 80% of tourism, which in turn results in officials needing to clear shark habitats to allow more space for tourist beaches. The removal of their breeding grounds contributes to the falling survival rates. Furthermore, Sharkopedia, a Time Home Entertainment resource, shared encroaching into these animal’s habitats without regard for the consequences can lead to unprecedented and undesirable changes in the food chain and oceanic ecosystems.
Even though there is a variety of programs that each take different a focus, every program that airs has one purpose, and that is to protect the livelihood of sharks by educating viewers. Every show either features real experts or survivors, both there to share their stories and provide insight into shark encounters. Shark Week also provides viewers with opportunities to get involved with different organizations geared towards protecting these animals. It is a learning resource in itself while it also provides individuals the opportunity to observe without harming. Most people will not have the chance to nor will want to swim with sharks but a majority of shark week programs display real footage of sharks in their natural habitats. Furthermore, Shark Week doesn’t stop raising awareness with the documentaries but also has an online page where you can find plenty of opportunities to get involved with ending the fin trade and saving the sharks.
Viewing just one program during Shark Week will definitely help you learn something new about sharks and shark encounters. Hearing shark attack survivors advocate for why sharks need to be protected proves how invaluable these creatures really are. Watching these programs provides you with knowledge to spread and the necessary tools to use in order to protect and preserve the lives of sharks. Remaining ignorant could potentially result in the extinction of sharks and the further deterioration of our oceans. Some of you may be thinking, an ocean without sharks sounds great! But we have to acknowledge the fact that the ocean is the shark’s home first. Remaining bystanders, we would be at fault for watching them become extinct, whether it be through pollution or hunting, and not doing anything about it. Joining the cause to raise awareness could potentially save these animals. Now you know how sharks have become endangered, how you can get involved in helping these animals, and what the potential outcomes could be if you do or do not join the cause. Shark Week is just one way Discovery Channel has helped in raising positive awareness surrounding sharks. With the rising human population, ensuring and protecting shark habitats is becoming increasingly urgent. While sharks are simultaneously amazing and terrifying, they are animals who need to be protected from the desires of mankind. Because of sharks, the ocean will always be one of my biggest fears and greatest wonders. I encourage you all to visit sharkopedia.discovery.com and tune in to Shark Week in order to learn more about sharks and how to get involved.
