Sharks: the World’s Least favorite Animal in Decline

2. Sharks: the World’s Least favorite Animal in Decline Case Study Number 3

3. Sharks: Americas least favorite animal in decline Case Study #3

4. Blue Shark (Prionaceglauca) Human perception of sharks and other “predators” 1. “Walt Disney Syndrome” 2. Perceived predator of humans 3. Annoying by-product of other human activities

5. Shark nerds always run the projector

6. “Food Fight”

7. Tell it again Gramps! The one about being caught in the shark frenzy off the Great Barrier Reef

9. Shark fishing in Florida. Sharks are caught by vacationers on a pleasure cruise, displayed, photographed and then discarded.

10. Although difficult to estimate, some published literature reports the annual “take” of sharks to exceed 200 million individuals world-wide, half of which is from drift gill nets.

11. Drift-net Fishing

12. Important Aspects of Shark Biology as They Affect Conservation Present in, more-or-less, their current morphology and habitat since the Devonian, 400 mya Range in size from a few inches to > 60 feet Fill virtually all marine environments Many species fill the niche of top carnivore- keystone predator Thus, they are important to ecosystem function

13. Important Aspects of Shark Biology as They Affect Conservation Shark predation on humans is greatly exaggerated- world-wide about 5 fatalities per year, mostly by White Sharks which normally feed on marine mammals and probably “mistake” a human in a wet suit for a sea lion. Forage using a variety of techniques; Pursuit predators “Sit-and-Wait” predators Filter feeders Scavengers Crushing shellfish, coral, etc..

14. Important Aspects of Shark Biology as They Affect Conservation Life history traits that make it difficult for sharks to recover from over-harvesting Long lived Delayed onset of reproduction Low annual reproductive potential, most species are “viviparous” giving birth to only a few individual young (pups) Slow growth rates Often solitary- potential mates difficult to locate

15. Important Aspects of Shark Biology as They Affect Conservation Sharks intentionally harvested for Meat Fins for pharmaceutical “cure-alls” and, in Asian cultures, for soup. Livers for “squalene” Adornments made of jaws and teeth Cartilage processed for anti-cancer medications and skin replacement and regeneration for burn victims Blood and other fluids for immune system studies

16. Important Aspects of Shark Biology as They Affect Conservation Intentional catch exceeded by the “by-catch” As many as 200 million killed per year- equal in weight to seven aircraft carriers If placed “nose-to-tail” the bodies would encircle the earth five times During “finning” operations the live, bleeding and rudderless animals are tossed back into the sea to eventually die 89% of the U.S. commercial catch is discarded