We Must Help Endangered Sharks (even if they’re scary)
Although England has harmless basking sharks, we don’t have great white sharks in England. They may look terrifying with their huge sets of teeth, but actually toasters kill more people each year.
Most shark attacks are when they mistake glistening surfboards for fish, and end up taking a bite of a human (who can bleed to death), but usually never eats a person, as we are not their natural diet.
Killing sharks is not just cruel, but plays havoc with ecosystems (in nature, sharks are predators of fish, and everything is kept in balance).
Visit Bite-Back for ways to help all sharks across the world. This includes (if you eat fish) knowing which brands of tuna to avoid (some also are harming sharks and other marine creatures). You can also contact the charity to alert them of anyone selling shark.
The number of sharks being slaughtered every day – primarily for shark fin soup – is shocking, and it’s got to stop. It’s time the public learned to regard sharks as the lions and leopards of the oceans, and get right behind shark conservation campaigns, before it’s too late. Steve Backshall
Avoid shark fin soup abroad
Many sharks are used to make shark fin soup (no taste, it’s just used for food decoration). The fins are cut off, and then the sharks are thrown back to sea, to die. Shark fins are illegal to import into the UK.
Also never buy shark teeth when abroad, as souvenirs.
Avoid ‘dogfish’ sold in chip shops
Some chip shops are now selling shark (labelling it dogfish), as cod is now so endangered, there are not enough stocks.
Be a sustainable sailor to help endangered sharks
If you sail a boat and spot a shark (or any marine wildlife), keep at least 100 feet away (or further away if possible for large creatures). If the creature approaches your boat, switch the engine off and slow your speed to 4 knots.
Never use jet skis or flash photography. If you dive or snorkel, enter the water gently, to avoid splashing, and again keep your distance – it’s their territory, not yours.
Choose plant-based squalane (beauty and supplements)
Sharks are often killed for the beauty, supplement and medicine industry, to make squalane (also called squalene).
It takes 3000 sharks to make just one ton of squalene, meaning almost 3 million sharks are killed each year.
It’s used mostly for:
- Beauty products (mostly in Asia as UK brands are changing over due to consumer pressure). Boycott in anti-wrinkle creams, deodorants, lip balms, lip sticks and sun protection. Some vegan ingredients are also called squalene, so double-check before buying.
- Supplements (this is the main use in the UK, in shark liver oil supplements). Most high street chains no longer sell them, but they are still legal to sell online, so boycott. Join the transparent label campaign, so consumers know what they are buying.
- Vaccines (it’s a main ingredient in many medical vaccines). So if you have a choice of ingredients, ask your GP)
