Are sharks really monsters? Or so we thought?

As longs as there are sharks, seagrass would be protected from being overgrazed. As long as sharks exist, they too can also fight climate change. (Unsplash photo)

Beach, a place that once heard, excites many people because of, among others, its stunning views that led to many photo sessions, the laid back vibe it gives, and its extremely calming effect on us just by walking on sand and watching the waves. Being close to the sea also means we can enjoy a lot of water sports and activities such as surfing, banana boat riding, snorkeling, deep sea diving, and many more. However, some beachgoers, or even those who seldom visit the coast, are afraid to be in the water because aside from not knowing how to swim, they wouldn’t want the idea of having these creatures lurking beneath their legs, waiting for the perfect timing to eat their next meal.

With its medium to enormous size, unnerving gaze, and razor-sharp teeth, sure, it cannot be denied that majority of us have a mental picture of sharks as deadly predators and see them as the ‘mafias’ of the seas that we and all other fish are scared of. In movies, sharks are portrayed as bloodthirsty monsters that attack humans whenever and wherever they want — thanks to films like Sharknado and Sand Shark for letting us know that sharks have an awesome power to kill people not only in the oceans but also in the air and sand. If not in the films, sharks may have been used by parents to scare their children that they might get eaten by it if they go too far on the beach.

But if truth be told, are sharks really the ‘killing machines’ they are commonly portrayed as? Or the story where we made them appear to be the murderers is, in fact, largely the opposite? Comparing the number of reported shark attacks to humans to the number of sharks killed in humans’ hands, are we really the ones who should be worried?

On this day, July 14, the world is celebrating an occasion dedicated to these toothy life forms called Shark Awareness Day. If you think this day is for you to go out there and give warnings to beachgoers to watch out for the ‘underwater beasts’… nope. It is actually meant for us to make room for respect and admiration to these animals that most of us thought are ‘ruthless man-eaters’ but, in reality, have done something good both to the marine environment and to us that we are unaware about.

Importance in ecosystem

Who would have thought that these creatures with the spine-chilling reputation are the ones responsible for keeping the ocean ecosystem healthy?

Sitting at the top of the food chain like king and queens, sharks play a crucial role in balancing populations of several kinds of fish through feeding on organisms below them.

A July 2008 study done by Oceana titled, Predators as Prey: Why Healthy Oceans Need Sharks, also found that aside from regulating the abundance of other species, sharks, as top predators, are able to sustain the underwater ecosystem in good shape by “providing essential food sources for scavengers” and eliminating those sick and weak from prey populations, preventing disease from spreading and leaving only the toughest and healthy ones.

Without sharks in the ocean, can you imagine living in an overpopulated ecosystem filled with disease-infected animals?

Importance in fighting climate change

Little did we know, sharks are also protecting us from climate change. How? By frightening herbivores of the ocean like sea turtles that feed on seagrass.

Seagrass has the vital role of absorbing a huge amount of carbon and storing it within sediments so it would be kept out of the Earth’s atmosphere. If sharks aren’t around and no one would prey on them, Oceana said sea turtles have the gall to consume more of its main food source, leading to the release of more carbon in the atmosphere and thereby accelerating global warming.

But with the sharks’ appearance, sea turtles would most likely stay away from places where their predators go, giving enough time for the plants in those areas to grow back sooner.

As longs as there are sharks, seagrass would be protected from being overgrazed. As long as sharks exist, they too can also fight climate change.

Importance in the economy

In addition to its importance, sharks also make contribution to boosting humans’ economies. But we aren’t crediting that to the number of these animals who meet their demise at our own hands as their fins are hacked from their body and sold to markets at a very high price.

Thanks to people who are fascinated with seeing and swimming with the sharks, they are helping to promote these creatures as one of the attractions of tourism. A study in 2013 titled, Global economic value of shark ecotourism: implications for conservation, found that more than USD 300 million per year is generated by the shark tourism, which could be doubled to USD 780 million within the next 20 years.

Aside from this, a 2012 article published in Conversation International’s blog has also proven that sharks are worth much more when they are alive than being added as one of the ingredients of a dish. The article stated that one could sell a set of hammerhead shark fins for USD 100, but a diver who’s interested to see and swim with a shark in Galápagos Islands is willing to pay for USD 5000.

Yes, you could earn huge from selling shark’s fin for a day, but if you would look at the bigger picture, drawing more tourists to see live sharks could actually bring more money, benefit more people, thrive more businesses, and more importantly, save them from the brink of extinction.

Eliminating sharks does not mean the world would finally be a place full of sunshine and rainbows. The reality is much different. Getting rid of them could put all of us in a catastrophic situation. If there are things sharks can do for us, isn’t it right to return the favor by also safeguarding them from the harms we ourselves have brought to them?

Let’s stop having the perspective that sharks are the monsters of the sea and start to learn as much as we can about these animals — their origin, their different types, their habitats, as well as their behaviors. There is so much to learn from them, and by educating ourselves, we could find effective ways how to save our toothy ocean pals. Spreading awareness about sharks being good life forms would be a good idea where to begin with, right?