What Most People Think About sharks. By Lawrence Lai Sixth Grade Student, Eastshore School

When you swim in the ocean, are you afraid of sharks? Too many people are afraid of sharks, but I’d like you to have the same love for sharks as I do. Sharks are very important to us. All sharks are carnivores because they keep the ocean healthy, and almost all sharks are completely harmless.

Sharks were on Earth before dinosaurs evolved. They’ve been on Earth for more than four hundred million years. Even though sharks may be scary for some people, we need to respect them just like we respect our good friends. Sharks are stewards of the ocean. They keep food chains healthy and balanced. For example, off our California coast Mako Sharks have been over-fished. Mako sharks love to eat Humboldt Squid, and because these sharks haven’t been in high enough numbers to control the squid, the squid have preyed upon their favorite food the Pacific Hake. The Pacific Hake fishery has collapsed which is a million dollar loss to a lot of hake fishermen.

All shark species are becoming endangered because of the increased popularity of shark fin soup. What is shark fin soup you might ask? Shark fin soup is served at many Asian restaurants, and it is especially popular on important occasions like weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and banquet dinners. Over 100 million sharks are killed by humans for their fins each year, and this needs to stop.

When sharks are caught for their fins, their live body is thrown back into the ocean where it sinks to the bottom to die a slow death. Shark Finning has tripled from 1980 and it increases about 6% each year. Shark Finning has caused many species of the shark’s population to decline by 90%.

To learn more about these magnificent creatures, my classmates and I have posted a website called www.ilovesharks.org. On our site, you’ll find information on how you can write a persuasive letter to ban shark fin products in the United States, and lab activities for students. You can even buy an “I Love Sharks” t-shirt to support shark preservation. It’s never too late save the sharks, and I’m happy to report that the state of Hawaii is the first state to pass a law banning shark fin products in their state. I hope you’re aware of the human problems that sharks face, and that you’ll help to both love and save these special creatures.