IUCN Red List of
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What's This?
Great White Shark: Human Connections
For Eductors
Lesson Plans & Activities
What I can do
Help end the myth that sharks are mindless man-eaters. Rethink the shark and then share the facts with your friends and family.
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Cultural Connections
Why We Should Save Sharks
Fear of sharks seems to be encoded in our genes. Yet few humans have ever been attacked by a shark while millions of sharks have been attacked and killed by us. Some shark species, such as the Shortspine spurdog, may have dropped by 95 percent. The sharks’ population decline has a ripple effect – throwing entire marine ecosystems out of balance.
Why save sharks? The reasons are many. Sharks keep the ocean healthy because they keep different prey species from becoming overabundant. Sharks keep the ocean clean by scavenging on dead animals. Sharks keep other species more fit by weeding out sick and weaker individuals. And sharks are beautiful – like lions and gorillas – crowning achievements of evolution.
Smithsonian Links
Shark Fin Soup
Shark fin soup is considered a delicacy in many Asian countries – once reserved only for the wealthy or for very special occasions. But rising incomes in Asia are having a disastrous impact on sharks. To make the soup, the fins of the sharks are sliced off and the rest of the body is tossed back in the water, dead or alive. The United Nations estimates that as many as 73 million sharks are killed annually to supply fins for soup. Fins from Great White Sharks can fetch the highest prices because of their rarity and size. In Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, conservationists are leading campaigns to stop serving shark fin soup.
Smithsonian Links
Threats and Solutions
Shark Nets
Dozens of shark nets have been installed off the east coast of South Africa and Australia. These nets are meant to protect swimmers from rare attacks. The nets entangle, suffocate and kill sharks. And the nets are indiscriminate. They also kill other animals -- like rays, turtles, dolphins and whales.
Shark Sanctuary
Great White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are a global species – and saving them will take a global effort. Some steps have already been taken. Countries like South Africa, Namibia, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, and Malta have fully protected Great White Sharks in their national waters. In California, NOAA is protecting Great White Sharks that feed in the Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of California. And the international organization CITES has implemented a ban on all international trade of products that come from Great White Sharks.
this site has been a very good help to me because i am have been doing a powerpoint on great white sharks and i think it will inspire many people with your help thank you