Of all species living in the epic oceans, few people would think that sharks would need protecting. To us, they are a top predator; fast, sleek, and deadly. Their skills as a predator both frighten and fascinate us but in reality, their survival is under threat.
Sharkwater brought us into the light. It answered questions we have not even asked before; how can we stop the sharks from being hunted to extinction? This Canadian documentary strived to eliminate the misconceptions we have about sharks. People should not think of conservation for only animals with fur and large watery eyes. Conservation means maintaining the biological balance of the Earth so that future generations may have a chance to survive. Sharkwater really helped in showing us how sharks are crucial to the equilibrium of not just the ocean but for all life on Earth.
Some of the facts presented in the movie are just astonishing. Sharks have been around for hundreds of millions of years and are one of the few species that have not changed since the era of dinosaurs. They consume smaller fish that feed on plankton and help to keep their population in check. Phytoplankton is crucial to produce the oxygen that we breathe and sharks help to preserve them.
Shark-finning is a billion-dollar industry so lucrative that government and crime both have a hand in keeping it going. In Costa Rica, shark-finning corporations could be found fishing out of private docks and protected by mafia. They even have people in the local government working for them to protect their assets. Truth is, the assets never belonged to them and they are illegally and immorally stealing from nature.
Toronto had recently banned shark fins and numerous complaints have arisen as a result. Shark fin is heavily embedded into culture and it is understandable of the opposition towards a ban. After all, it is a symbol of wealth and traditional to serve at Chinese weddings and celebrations. Truth is, the real cost of shark fin is on the environment, in places oceans away and hidden out of sight. Giving up a few selfish pleasures is not difficult and this may be the least difficult one. Therefore, I must side with the decision to ban shark fins for good.
