When I sat down in the Nature Conservation Council’s offices to discuss launching a “Shark Challenge”, I had a vague idea that sharks numbers where in serious decline. I figured that it was a combination of over-fishing, climate-change causing shortages of food etc.
Here is what I learnt, 90% of the worlds shark population have been wiped out largely due to shark finning.
I then watched the film SharkWater and saw sharks having their fins removed then being tossed back into the water unable to swim, slowly sinking toward the bottom where it is eaten alive by other fish.
It is believed that within a decade most species of shark will be lost forever. Lost probably isn’t the best word to use as it implies they can be found.
So why are approximately 100 million sharks being killed a year for the fins? An increasing demand for shark fin soup. And you guessed it the NSW govt still allows shark exports and we are going to help get them banned, it’s the least we can do.
So we came up with an Inspired Adventure like no other! Read about it here Shark Swim Challenge 2010
If we don’t do something right now, the only place the next generation will see a shark is in a tank and the next generation on video!
Sharks are essential to preserve the ecological balance. Studies have shown that where sharks are a key species, if stocks are depleted the food chain is unbalanced and the reef is destroyed.
Awesome post, and especially relevant to me right now as I have just acquired a code base that I am attempting to do fix up