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Sharks - the basicsWhy conserve sharks?
Keeping ocean ecosystems in balanceMost sharks serve as top predators at the pinnacle of the marine food pyramid, and so play a critical role in ocean ecosystems. Directly or indirectly they regulate the natural balance of these ecosystems – at all levels – and so are an integral part of them. And because they usually hunt older, weaker or sick prey, they also help to keep the prey population in good condition – healthy and strong animals are more able to reproduce and pass on their genes.The effects of removing sharks from
ocean ecosystems, although complex and rather unpredictable, are likely
to be ecologically and economically damaging.For example, one study showed that
the removal of tiger sharks from a tropical ecosystem resulted
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