How Can We Protect All Sharks?

Humans must shift their perception of sharks from mindless killing machines to seeing them as critical components of marine ecosystems.
Sharks have been portrayed negatively in popular media, such as the film Jaws, instilling irrational fear in people. This fear has led to a desire to eradicate sharks, even though they pose little threat to humans.
To protect shark populations, we must recognise their role as apex predators in balancing ocean food webs.
Their presence in the oceans in the appropriate population numbers is critical for healthy marine ecosystems.
Overfishing the oceans with nets large enough to entrap a dozen 747s must stop, as sharks are often caught as by-catch.
Supertrawlers pose the greatest threat to sharks, with finning, or killing them for their fins, coming in second.
Worldwide fining bans must be implemented as soon as possible.
People in certain Asian countries are now discovering that shark fins are primarily made of cartilage, which lacks essential nutrients found in other seafood.
Shark fins contain no protein, vitamins, or minerals that contribute to a balanced diet; in fact, their composition is very similar to beef cartilage, so I’m not sure why people ever thought eating a shark fin was worthwhile.
Shark fins are primarily composed of collagen, a protein found in connective tissues, as is beef cartilage.
Beef Cartilage has an added benefit in that it contains glycosaminoglycans such as chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine, which help to maintain cartilage hydration and flexibility.
So, while eating shark fins is essentially eating tasteless, texture-less material with no health benefits, if people have somehow convinced themselves that eating collagen through cartilage is a good thing, then eat beef cartilage and reap the benefits.
The reduced demand for shark fin soup appears to have helped, but more must be done to prevent overfishing by super trawlers.
We must increase our overall appreciation for sharks through responsible eco-tourism activities that protect their habitats.
This can provide economic incentives for conservation while allowing people to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural environment.
This can provide financial incentives for conservation while also allowing people to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

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