I'm doing a research project on the impact of shark hunting and killing. My topics so far include (1) sharks are living fossils, (2) sharks are not as dangerous as people think, (3) sharks are vanishing, and (4) sharks are helping with cancer research.
Are there any other important topics that I am missing? (The paper will need to eventually be about 12 pages long, so topics that can be elaborated on are great.)
Why should we reduce the amount of shark hunting and killing?
Probably the most important reason is that sharks are keystone predators in many ecosystems. Without their influence, these ecosystems can start to fall apart, often with disastrous consequences for human fisheries. So the loss of sharks is not only a problem for the environment, but it can have a direct impact on our economy as well. The most pertinent example I can think of is the damage to shellfish fisheries - as we overfish sharks, the smaller predators that they normally held in check are exploding in numbers and consuming more shellfish than previously.
Here are some links for you (you should probably try to get the original Science article cited in many of these articles - it is a primary source, which is always better than a secondary source)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/200...
http://wildlife-conservation.suite101.co...
http://news.mongabay.com/2007/0329-shark...
Reply:In parts of Asia, shark fin soup is considered a delicacy. Sharks are caught and the dorsal fin is cut off and the shark is let free, only to die a slow death. Many thousands of sharks are killed in this way and some varieties are being over fished.
Reply:You see, son: everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.
Sharks are connected to us through the great circle of life. I'd hate to see them go the way of the buffalo, wouldn't you?
adult teeth
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