02-22-2019, 05:38 AM
I found this article quite interesting and nice to read. As somebody who has also watched "Sharkwater," created and directed by Rob Stewart, I am able to understand the importance of sharks and their role in our ecosystem. They truly are, as you said, part of the backbone that sustains our marine ecosystem. Finning of any animal is a serious issue that us as humans have to confront more strictly and seriously. Finning of animals is an extremely wasteful, unsustainable way of using animals for resources. You take their fins and throw the rest of the body away, back into the ocean. This is similar to, for example, killing an ox only to take it's horns, leaving the carcass to rot. Doing this damages our environment more than it does help it. In addition, the fact that most of the sharks being finned are of endangered species only amplifies the issue of finning. Many sharks have been killed simply for their fins to be used in certain dishes and soups. Imitated shark fin exists for people to use in dishes instead, so there is no need to kill endangered sharks for their fins. However, people are greedy and will go to great lengths in order to make money, even if it means wiping out an entire species. I believe that not as many people are advocating for the protection of sharks since sharks are seen as violent, horrible monsters. Although there are many misconceptions of sharks and their nature, they are not as violent as media makes them seem. I believe that we as people should put more emphasis on the conservation of sharks as a species. Sharks are an essential part of our marine ecosystem so if they were ever to go extinct, our marine ecosystem will fall apart.