Sharks maintain the health and balance of the ecosystem from fish population to the seagrass and coral reefs.

As apex predators, they regulate the populations of direct prey species, and via a cascade effect, regulate the rest of the food-chain. In addition, the presence of sharks affects the spatial and activity distribution of different species.

Case in Point: Great Sharks in the North Atlantic

There are 11 great (more than 2 meters in length) sharks regulating the ecosystem in the North Atlantic.

As a result of their demise, the sharks’ direct preys- rays, skates and smaller sharks, had an explosive ten-fold increase in population. These species feed on bivalves (oysters, scallops, mussels, clams) and overpopulation has resulted in the collapse of the North Carolina Bay Scallop industry in 2004. Quahog, a species of bivalve that is used to prepare clam chowder, was drastically reduced and removed from food menus. We could do without our clam chowder, but bivalves, being filter feeders, are important in clarifying ocean water. Oysters, for example, filter up to five litres of water per hour. Without them, oceans risk algae blooms which would then affect species beyond the marine ones, including humans.

11 great sharks in the whole of North Atlantic is the epitome of an unsustainable relationship. At the rate of finning, how much time will it take before the rest of the oceans parallel this North Atlantic scenario?

Can we afford to see our ecosystems collapse as a result of human-folly?

Man is but one out of millions of species that are intricately linked in this web of life. We are the apex predators of this Earth and it is our responsibility to ensure the continuity of other species, if not for them, then for ourselves.