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Shark fact:
Most sharks are caught by fisherman in search of other fish (bycatch). Their valuable fins are cut off to make soup, and the live shark thrown back to die.
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Why should we save our sharks?
The sharks are among the most important 'keystone' marine species. This means they have an significant role in maintaining the equilibrium of the marine environment. For example, they can regulate the balance between different fish species: when large sharks are removed, other commercially-important fish populations may be out-competed by less valuable fish which were formerly eaten by the sharks.
Shark and ray fisheries, when properly managed, can be provide an important and sustainable source of food and income to fishing communities.
Sharks and rays are highly valued by some sports anglers. Anglers take only small numbers of fish, but may contribute significantly to our knowledge of these fish by participating in tagging and research programmes, and are important contributors to the economy of coastal communities.
These are some of the most interesting and spectacular of marine animals. Like the large land predators (such as lions and tigers), they are valued greatly by many for the intrinsic fascination they engender. Divers long to see sharks and rays in the open ocean, and the public flocks to see them in aquariums. Boat trips to see basking sharks are even beginning to help support coastal tourism in some west coast areas.
Are sharks dangerous to man?
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