30/05/2026
I am just as afraid of running into a shark 🦈 in the ocean while snorkeling as I am of running into wolves 🐺 in the woods while hiking: not afraid.
Both top predators have senses far beyond mine.
They know I’m there way before I can see them and they have no interest in crossing paths with me given the choice.
I’ve seen sharks while snorkeling, even some of the deemed most aggressive ones, and they’ve never given me the time of day…just went on with theirs.
Being aware and respectful when in their turf (and surf) is of course always important.
But what we should be afraid of is the rapid decline in shark populations we’ve experienced in the past few decades!
😱Approximately one-third of all shark and ray species are currently threatened with extinction. The primary reason they are endangered is relentless overfishing—driven by the high demand for shark fins, meat, and liver oils—compounded by the fact that sharks grow slowly and produce very few offspring.
🥣 Overfishing & Finning: Commercial and recreational fishing is the largest single driver of shark decline. An estimated 100 million sharks are killed globally every year, often targeted for shark fin soup.
🎣 Accidental Catch (Bycatch): Millions of sharks are caught unintentionally by industrial fishing gear intended for tuna, swordfish, and other commercial fish.
If sharks went extinct, it would trigger a catastrophic domino effect across global marine ecosystems. As apex predators, sharks regulate the food chain. Their loss would cause populations of their prey to explode, ultimately destroying coral reefs, collapsing fisheries, and severely damaging the ocean’s ability to store carbon.
One person may not be able to change the fishing industry but one person can certainly change how they themselves understand and talk about sharks.
If you’re afraid; educate yourself until you’re not, so that at least the narrative about sharks can change and with it how we treat this keystone species we get to share this earth with still.
