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Sharks - the basicsWhy conserve sharks?
Keeping ocean ecosystems in balance
Most 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 in a
decline in tuna even though tuna were not important prey for the
sharks. Instead of increasing in abundance as might have been expected, the tuna declined because the tiger sharks had been keeping other tuna predators in check.
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As predators at the top of the marine food chain, sharks play a critical role in ocean ecosystems.
© Charles Maxwell/ Underwater Cameraman
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Shark uses
Research into sharks’ remarkable immune systems may hold the key to a better understanding of fighting diseases in humans.
Sharks are increasingly important to commercial and recreational fisheries as well as ecotourism operations, but these uses can only be sustained through sound conservation and management measures.
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