Great White Sharks: Monsters or Victims?

What do you picture when you think of a great white shark? Most likely you envision a ferocious, blood thirsty beast with razor sharp teeth like the monster of Jaws, devouring helpless swimmers, surfers, and boaters. The truth is that sharks have much more to fear from us than when do from them. Sharks are falsely portrayed as man-eating beasts in media and film. Great white sharks seldom attack humans (about a hundred attacks worldwide per year). As a result of their negative image, the scientific importance of these sharks is often overlooked. Sharks represent some 350 million years of evolution and play a vital role in ocean ecology (Burdeau). Sadly, white shark populations are being rapidly depleted by over fishing and other human activities (Maddalena). Fortunately, many countries are working together to ensure the survival of sharks. However; shark conservationists are still a long way from ensuring the safety of white sharks. In order to ensure the survival of great white sharks, conservationists need to focus on educating the public, research, international collaboration, and encouraging economic alternatives to finning.

Sport fisheries and commercial fisheries represent the greatest threat to great white shark populations ("Great White Shark Conservation"). The white shark is an apex predator and as such, has very few natural predators. Killer whales and larger sharks pose the only real threats for an adult great white shark. Consequently, white sharks have a slow growth and reproductive rate and populations are more vulnerable to rapid decline when targeted by fisheries ("Great White Shark Conservation"). According to current estimates, over 100 million sharks are killed each year ("Great White Shark Conservation"). Consequently, steep declines in the abundance of shark populations have been reported in the Northwest Atlantic, Australia, and Northeast South Africa ("Great White Shark Conservation"). While the National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS) acknowledge that no one knows how many sharks are out there, estimates from test ample areas suggest that great whites and several other sharks are near extinction (Norman). Conservationists need to increase research on the reproduction, life cycles, and migration of sharks in order to provide more evidence of the danger of shark extinction.

One reason for the sharp decline in shark populations is the boom in demand for shark fin, especially in Asian countries (Trivedi). According to Shivji, there is a much higher demand for shark fin than shark flesh. As a result, many fishing vessels perform the cruel and wasteful practice of finning, the slicing off of the fins of the shark and dumping the carcass overboard (Trivedi). Horribly, the shark, which cannot swim without its fins, either drowns or dies from starvation (Trivedi). It is estimated that worldwide 100-200 million sharks per year are killed using the finning process, earning $240 million per year for suppliers (Norman).

In the United States, the purchasing, landing, or possession of shark fins alone is prohibited under the Shark Finning Prohibition Act, which was enacted on December 27, 2000 (Trivedi). However, sharks are migratory animals, which travel long distances. In order to ensure the survival of shark species international cooperation is needed. Thankfully, great white shark gained CITES protection at the 2004 conference. CITES is an international agreement between 166 governments that works to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten species' survival (Owen). The countries involved in CITES have agreed to enforce its provisions through permits, policing, and monitoring. The Fish and Wildlife Service enforces CITES in the U. S. (Owen). In addition, in November of 2004, over 60 countries agreed to ban the practice of finning in the Atlantic Oceans (Burdeau). These agreements have gone a long way to ensuring the survival of sharks; however, many countries still are practicing finning. Conservationists need to increase the pressure on countries which refuse the ban. In order to do this, conservationists should increase their efforts to educate and engage the public in the campaign to protect sharks.

According to Sonja Fordham of the Center for Marine Conservation in Washington, D.C., "We've got to change the image of sharks in the public mind or we may drive several breeds of sharks into commercial or even ecological extinction" (qtd in Thornton). The first step to creating sympathy for sharks is debunking the idea that sharks frequently attack humans. On a worldwide scale, only 5 to 15 of the estimated 100 shark attacks are fatal (Maddalena). In fact, in most cases, the attack ends after the initial contact and the shark does not kill or eat the victim (Maddalena). Shark conservationists need to work to educate the public about the growing decline in shark populations, their vital role in the ocean ecology, and the truth behind the myths about them.

We are only beginning to understand the far-reaching effects of shark population decline. For example, biologists believe the rise in stingrays off the Florida panhandle may be a by-product of the shark's decline (Elmer-Dewitt). Shark conservationists need to encourage and support research projects dealing with the results of shark population decline on other species. These studies will help to inform the public of the importance of sharks and encourage them to support shark preservation campaigns.

Currently, research is being done to understand shark behavior and the reasons behind shark attacks. Mike Rutzen is famous in the diving world for both his photography and behavioral research of great white sharks. Rutzen has gained immense knowledge about the behavior of great white sharks by courageously free-diving with them off the coast of Africa ("White Shark Man"). Rutzen has studied the way these sharks communicate using body language. Based on his observations, he has imitated their movements and successful swam unprotected on the dorsal fins of great white sharks ("White Shark Man"). Free diving can help develop guidelines for those who deflect an oncoming white shark with his hand, and sometimes even without contact at all ("White Shark Man"). Rutzen's research will help to develop better and safer guidelines for interactions between divers and white sharks. Positive media coverage of sharks such as presented in Rutzen's photography help to debunk myths about sharks and gain support for shark preservation.

Rutzen hopes that his pictures will encourage people and divers to learn more about and want to protect sharks ("White Shark Man"). '"Dive with them!'says Rutzen, 'If divers start asking to dive with sharks everywhere they go, we will see an international movement towards the protection of sharks, because their monetary value will be so high, and unfortunately, that's what matters"' (qtd. in "White Shark Man"). Although few of us are ready to go freediving with these magnificent creatures, Rutzen makes an important suggestion about a viable economic alternative to the horrific finning practice: tourism and diving centered on sharks. South Africans are taking advantage of their close proximity to white sharks by developing a strong tourist industry that is built around viewing sharks in their natural habitat ("Great White Shark Conservation").

For most of us, the most exciting part of going to an aquarium is watching the sharks. We are mystified, terrified, and amazed by them. Sociobiologist, E.O.Wilson, discusses the human fascination with sharks, "We're transfixed by them, prone to weave stories and fables and chatter endlessly about them, because fascination creates Preparedness, and preparedness, survival" (qtd. in Benchley). Although sharks are often viewed as man-eating predators, the truth is quite the opposite. Mankind is the predator. We our the invaders. Sharks are the victims. According to Peter Benchlay, "The mistake we make, then, either in seeking to destroy sharks or in not caring if we inadvertently destrom them, is one of cosmic stupidity. If I have one hipe, it is that we will come to appreciate and protect these wonderful animals before we manage, through ignornace, stupidity, and greet, to wip them out altogether." The survival of shark populations depends on continued international conservation efforst. In addition, conservationists need to work to educate the public about the current threat to shark populations, research sharks and the effects of population declines, and encourage tourism industries based on shark viewing and diving.

Works Cited

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Owens, James. "Great White Sharks, Others Win Global Protection." National GeographicNews. 15 Oct. 2004. 15 Apr. 2005 http://nwes.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/10/1015

Trivedi, Bijal. "Shark-Soup Boom Spurs Conservationist DNA Study." National Geographic Today. 17 Sep. 2002. 15 Apr. 2005 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2002/09/0917sharks.html

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