Sharks in Danger

Like many animals in our world, sharks are in danger. In the last 15 years, mankind has depleted some shark species numbers up to 80 percent. However, unlike most other fish, sharks grow slowly and have very few offspring. This makes them particularly vulnerable to over-fishing and human exploitation.

Sharks are top predators, therefore, they are a critical component of the ocean's sensitive food webs. Currently, some species are being finned and fished to near extinction which may have profound negative effects upon all other organisms within the marine environment. If something radical is not done soon to help the plight of sharks, it may be too late!

Adopting a shark is your chance to make a difference. Not only can you actively contribute to the preservation of these living fossils, you can actually track and name your own living shark!

As one of the oldest species on Earth, Sharks have flourished in the oceans for over 400 million years. But today, like many other animals in our world, sharks are in danger with over 100 million sharks being killed globally each year. During the past 15 years, mankind has depleted some shark species numbers by up to 80 percent. And unlike many other fish, sharks grow slowly and have very few offspring. This makes them particularly vulnerable to extinction.

Sharks feed at the top of the food chain in the ocean ecosystem. They play a vital role in maintaining the balance in the oceans by preying on sick and weak animals and keeping population sizes in check.

The demise of sharks is already having profound negative effects upon all other organisms within the marine environment. If something radical is not done soon to help the plight of sharks, it may be too late!

By adopting a shark, you can be directly involved in shark research. AdoptAShark researchers place satellite and acoustic tags on sharks throughout the year – recording the location and time spent at each site, allowing us to map the sharks’ movements over time.

This information can be used to improve shark management decisions, such as the selection of marine reserves. Tagging sharks is one of the most important first steps in conserving and protecting these awesome creatures.

Sharks are threatened by:
- Overfishing
- Finning
- By-Catch

What else can you do to help?
Adopting a shark is your chance to make a difference by becoming directly involved with shark research that will help to protect sharks. If you want to do more to join the fight to save sharks, consider one or all of the following.

- Avoid shark products.
Your consumer choices do make a difference! Avoid eating shark and shark fin soup or buying shark products such as jaws, skins, teeth, cartilage pills or shark liver oil.

- Make responsible seafood choices.
And download and follow the Seafood Watch Guide from Iemanya and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This easy-to-use tool can be kept in your wallet and makes it simple to decide which fish to buy and consume. Buy ocean-friendly seafood to support those fisheries and fish farms that are healthier for ocean wildlife and the environment.

- Tell your government representatives to protect sharks.
Your voice will make a difference! Write your own or click here for a sample letter.
If you live outside the United States, contact your fisheries policy officials and ask them to ensure your country has an effective ban on shark finning and a national plan of action for shark conservation.

If you are In the US, write to:

• The National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910

• Visit Congress.org to find the contact info for your representative

• If you live on the West Coast, write to:
Pacific Fishery Management Council
7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101
Portland, OR 97220
Pcouncil.org

• If you live on the Gulf Coast, write to:
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
PO Box 726
Ocean Springs, MS 39566
Gsmfc.org

• If you live on the Atlantic Coast, write to:
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1444 Eye Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Asmfc.org

- Keep our beaches and oceans clean.
• Limit your use of plastics and always recycle.
• Conserve water.• Use environmentally safe cleaning and gardening products.
• Do not dump anything in storm drains.
• Reduce automobile pollution.
• Join a Coastal Cleanup or Beach Cleanup Day.

- Spread the word!
Unfortunately, sharks have a terrible reputation as man-eating monsters, which is continually perpetuated by the global media. Therefore, their plight is often overlooked. Use your voice to help draw attention to this important issue.

• AdoptAShark packages make great birthday and holiday gifts for your friends and family, as well as great team-building programs for corporations and networking groups!

• Email Environmental or Science reporters at your city’s major daily newspaper and encourage them to write about shark conservation.

• Host a shark party! Email us to receive our Shark Party in a Box package, then invite a few friends over to learn about shark conservation in a fun way.

• Join our social networks. Click on the buttons to the right to become our friends on Facebook and MySpace. Then join the AdoptAShark cause and invite your friends to do so as well.

• Ask your local dive shop to post information about AdoptAShark (you can email us to receive flyers).

• Volunteer to make a presentation about shark conservation in your local schools (we can provide a sample presentation and activities for the kids).

• If you have a blog, list our News page in your blog roll and let us know – we may be able to do the same.

• Use www.travel4sharks.com to book your next vacation or business trip! Commissions on your booking go to support Iemanya’s shark conservation work.

Thank you for your support. Together we can help to save and protect sharks!