Rethink
Through a campaign of novel initiatives SOSF is helping to bring the ‘Rethink’ message to the world. By developing an understanding of the role sharks play in the worlds ecosystems, we hope to keep sharks in the worlds oceans for future generations.
To help turn the tide, SOSF produced ‘Rethink the shark’, a multiple award winning short film that shows people exactly how misguided their preconceptions about sharks are.
Shark Nets Video Player
SOSF is committed to helping people rethink their preconceptions about sharks. For far too long humans have considered the shark to be the monster of our seas. However, statistics suggest differently. Every year 100 million sharks are caught globally, whereas in 2007 just one human was killed by a shark.
This begs the question: Who’s the real predator?
As apex predators, sharks are essential to the oceans; they regulate and maintain the balance of life. Unfortunately, this important role that they fulfill is rarely acknowledged; sharks have suffered bad press for decades.
In 1975, the movie ‘Jaws’ had a profound effect on people. The ocean was no longer welcoming. It hid monsters in its depths and sharks have suffered from that misguided reputation ever since. The movie unintentionally turned the world against sharks.
Nowadays, sharks are under ever-increasing persecution; millions are caught every year in long-line fisheries, either as by-catch or in targeted fisheries. Most sharks are ‘finned’; whilst still alive, their fins are cut from their bodies, and the rest of the shark is dumped overboard to drown.The fins are destined for a dish served at banquets and weddings in the Far East; shark fin soup is a symbol of privilege and social rank, costing up to US $100 a bowl. It’s the rising demand for this status symbol dish that is driving many species of shark towards extinction.
This begs the question: Who’s the real predator?
As apex predators, sharks are essential to the oceans; they regulate and maintain the balance of life. Unfortunately, this important role that they fulfill is rarely acknowledged; sharks have suffered bad press for decades.
In 1975, the movie ‘Jaws’ had a profound effect on people. The ocean was no longer welcoming. It hid monsters in its depths and sharks have suffered from that misguided reputation ever since. The movie unintentionally turned the world against sharks.
Nowadays, sharks are under ever-increasing persecution; millions are caught every year in long-line fisheries, either as by-catch or in targeted fisheries. Most sharks are ‘finned’; whilst still alive, their fins are cut from their bodies, and the rest of the shark is dumped overboard to drown.The fins are destined for a dish served at banquets and weddings in the Far East; shark fin soup is a symbol of privilege and social rank, costing up to US $100 a bowl. It’s the rising demand for this status symbol dish that is driving many species of shark towards extinction.
Through a campaign of novel initiatives SOSF is helping to bring the ‘Rethink’ message to the world. By developing an understanding of the role sharks play in the worlds ecosystems, we hope to keep sharks in the worlds oceans for future generations.
To help turn the tide, SOSF produced ‘Rethink the shark’, a multiple award winning short film that shows people exactly how misguided their preconceptions about sharks are.
Statistics
1 fatal unprovoked shark attack in 2007 - ISAF Statistics for the Top Ten Worldwide Locations with the Highest Shark Attack Activity since 1990, International Shark Attack Files, 2009.
The most recent reported catch information available is for 2007: 781,326 tonnes of sharks and rays, which equates to approximately 50 million individuals based on the assumption that an individual will on average weigh 15kg - FAO (2009) Capture production 1950-2007.
Estimate that annual catches could in fact be in the region of 100 million, due to bodies being discarded at sea thereby not being included in the tonnage, and many contries simply not monitoring their fisheries - Bonfil, R. (1994) Overview of World Elasmobranch Fisheries. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 341. FAO of the United Nations, Rome.
1 fatal unprovoked shark attack in 2007 - ISAF Statistics for the Top Ten Worldwide Locations with the Highest Shark Attack Activity since 1990, International Shark Attack Files, 2009.
The most recent reported catch information available is for 2007: 781,326 tonnes of sharks and rays, which equates to approximately 50 million individuals based on the assumption that an individual will on average weigh 15kg - FAO (2009) Capture production 1950-2007.
Estimate that annual catches could in fact be in the region of 100 million, due to bodies being discarded at sea thereby not being included in the tonnage, and many contries simply not monitoring their fisheries - Bonfil, R. (1994) Overview of World Elasmobranch Fisheries. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 341. FAO of the United Nations, Rome.