Dive into the Depths

Sharks are the apex of the food chain, with their sharp teeth and ferocious appetite, sharks are necessary to keep the marine life food chain in balance. Whether you love them or hate them, sharks are help keep the ocean's population in check. Unfortunately, some fisherman don't understand the importance of sharks. Overfishing is a massive problem for sharks, as their meat, fins, gills, and liver are all considered exotic. Over 100 million sharks die each year, and over 1/3 of all shark species are endangered due to habitat loss, pollution and climate change. Even though sharks help us so much, they are yet to be nationally recognized. Over one billion people rely on seafood for their food, and over 780 million jobs are provided for by the seafood industry. Without sharks, job loss, income loss, and food insecurity are all possible outcomes. 

Sharks are not only able to save lives through food and jobs, they also provide scientists ways to help treat cancer or other illnesses. Humans have very unstable genes which cause age-related diseases like cancer or others. Sharks, on the other hand, have been around for much longer, and have developed strong genes that can self heal and are also more resistant to damage. Researchers are hoping to find a way to integrate shark genes with human genes.