People tend to think of sharks as large, needlessly dangerous monsters. This is not accurate; the ocean needs sharks for a variety of reasons. Let’s take a look at just five reasons why humans need to respect and understand the importance of sharks to the survival of the ocean — and the planet.
Keep Prey Populations Healthy
Sharks prey on the slow and sickly of their prey species, ultimately keeping the entire population healthier. They scavenge dead bodies, preventing the spread of disease and containing potential outbreaks. They help keep the gene pool strong by removing unhealthy potential contributors.
Balance the Food Web
The ocean needs sharks to keep the entire ecosystem in balance. Sharks help prevent particular species from crowding out others or overpopulating. They are important enough to be considered “keystone” species, meaning that the entire food web is delicately balanced on this apex predator. We have already seen what happens in some areas when shark populations are decimated, with terrible effects on the ocean and human populations nearby.
Keep Habitats Healthy
The hunting habits of sharks on fish and other prey species also causes populations to move often as a method of defense. This prevents overgrazing and keeps habitats like seagrass beds healthy. Studies have shown that when populations of sharks go down, the imbalance eventually leads to disastrous effects like reef bleaching.
Regulate the Carbon Cycle
When sharks scavenge dead bodies, they release the carbon contained in those bodies to return to the cycle of life. This is essential for the overall balance of life in the ocean and on land. The ocean needs sharks to keep the cycle of carbon going.
Captivating Human Interest in Maintaining Healthy Oceans
As we learn more about how important sharks are for keeping the populations of ocean life we depend on healthy and viable, humans become interested in taking action to conserve them. A worldwide increase in tourism developed specifically around observing sharks in their natural habitat has given local populations more incentive to keep their areas of the ocean healthy.
