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Honed to perfection

Nature ’ s most successful design Control 2/3 ’ s of the planet Have survived 5 major extinctions – have lasted 100 times longer than man Relatively unstudied - we still know very little about them Increasingly important to tourism – millions of $ Biology incredibly unique Keep our oceans healthy and bio-diverse Have 7 highly evolved senses Learn quickly & constantly adapting Magnificent predators to be respected and revered.

Control 2/3 ’ s of the planet

Have survived 5 major extinctions – have lasted 100 times longer than man

Relatively unstudied - we still know very little about them

Increasingly important to tourism – millions of $

Biology incredibly unique

Keep our oceans healthy and bio-diverse

Have 7 highly evolved senses

Learn quickly & constantly adapting

Over 500 unique species Whale sharks: the world ’ s largest fish feeds on plankton (50 feet) Frilled sharks: one of the oldest and most unusual species Angel sharks: hide in the sand and are bottom-feeders Dwarf lanternshark: smallest shark (6 inches) Great White: perhaps the most famous, and one of the few implicated in attacks on humans Saw sharks: slender shark with saw-like snout that finds and slashes prey. Long ‘ barbel ’ s are electro-sensitive to find prey.

Whale sharks: the world ’ s largest fish feeds on plankton (50 feet)

Frilled sharks: one of the oldest and most unusual species

Angel sharks: hide in the sand and are bottom-feeders

Dwarf lanternshark: smallest shark (6 inches)

Great White: perhaps the most famous, and one of the few implicated in attacks on humans

Saw sharks: slender shark with saw-like snout that finds and slashes prey. Long ‘ barbel ’ s are electro-sensitive to find prey.

Sharks are critically important Sharks are the apex predators of almost every ocean habitat At the top of the food chain, sharks keep our oceans healthy They have groomed other species for millions of years and keep them in check Our oceans supply a major source of food and oxygen to us and remove carbon dioxide (global warming gas)

Sharks are the apex predators of almost every ocean habitat

At the top of the food chain, sharks keep our oceans healthy

They have groomed other species for millions of years and keep them in check

Our oceans supply a major source of food and oxygen to us and remove carbon dioxide (global warming gas)

Should we fear sharks?

So why do we love to hate sharks? Fear of the unknown – vicious, indiscriminate, unpredictable bloodthirsty predators Media feeds us mis-truths building our fears We LOVE our monsters! Of 500 species – only 10 have been associated with the rare attacks on humans Our irrational fear of sharks explains our lack of desire to conserve them.

Fear of the unknown – vicious, indiscriminate, unpredictable bloodthirsty predators

Media feeds us mis-truths building our fears

We LOVE our monsters!

Of 500 species – only 10 have been associated with the rare attacks on humans

Fiction Fact Fact

Sharks are facing extinction We are witnessing the first round of ocean extinction Our impact on the ocean in the last 50 years is devastating – pollution, overfishing, habitat destruction 90% of some shark species have been destroyed Demand for shark is at an all time high – trade goes global – and underground Even marine reserves are target of illegal fisheries No species are internationally protected Predators … ... Or Prey?

We are witnessing the first round of ocean extinction

Our impact on the ocean in the last 50 years is devastating – pollution, overfishing, habitat destruction

90% of some shark species have been destroyed

Demand for shark is at an all time high – trade goes global – and underground

Even marine reserves are target of illegal fisheries

No species are internationally protected

The numbers are haunting Sharks are being chased to extinction because their fins are currently valuable 97 to 99% of regional populations of certain shark species are already gone 23% of all sharks species are endangered (World Conservation Union) 42% of Mediterranean shark species are endangered Shark populations are plummeting

Sharks are being chased to extinction because their fins are currently valuable

97 to 99% of regional populations of certain shark species are already gone

23% of all sharks species are endangered (World Conservation Union)

42% of Mediterranean shark species are endangered

Why should we care? The oceans are the most important ecosystem on the planet That life is kept healthy by sharks: apex predators The oceans - our life support systems - are being destroyed We are threatening our own source of food and oxygen in an unprecedented way We are (again!) running a large scale experiment on our planet without understanding the implications We are killing sharks at an unsustainable rate

The oceans are the most important ecosystem on the planet

That life is kept healthy by sharks: apex predators

The oceans - our life support systems - are being destroyed

We are threatening our own source of food and oxygen in an unprecedented way

We are (again!) running a large scale experiment on our planet without understanding the implications

Sharkfinning: sharks’ greatest threat Cruel practice of slicing off fins – then dumping fish 95% of fish is wasted – fin is most valuable Millions of tons of shark fin harvested per year – and growing Used as a tasteless ingredient in a social status soup Demand continues to increase while supply plummets World-wide problem fueled by greed Indiscriminate practice: all ages, sex & species killed Sharks are disappearing without us even noticing or caring

Cruel practice of slicing off fins – then dumping fish

95% of fish is wasted – fin is most valuable

Millions of tons of shark fin harvested per year – and growing

Used as a tasteless ingredient in a social status soup

Demand continues to increase while supply plummets

World-wide problem fueled by greed

Indiscriminate practice: all ages, sex & species killed

Shark fin soup driving demand Shark fin soup is a sign of prosperity and respect in Asia The vitality of the Chinese economy has driven demand for shark fin soup Shark fin soup costs as much as $100 a bowl Shark fins are surpassed in cost only by such foods as some caviar and truffles Dried shark fins cost anywhere from $100 to $300 per pound A single Whale Shark pectoral fin can sell for up to $15,000 The shark fin market alone causes upwards of 73 million shark deaths each year

Shark fin soup is a sign of prosperity and respect in Asia

The vitality of the Chinese economy has driven demand for shark fin soup

Shark fin soup costs as much as $100 a bowl

Shark fins are surpassed in cost only by such foods as some caviar and truffles

Dried shark fins cost anywhere from $100 to $300 per pound

A single Whale Shark pectoral fin can sell for up to $15,000

Myths that kill sharks MYTH: Sharks fin soup: a sign of prosperity FACT: Prosperity only for the mafia-like trading firms MYTH: Sharks fin soup tastes great FACT: Shark fin has no taste MYTH: Shark cartilage cures arthritis, cancer, HIV FACT: Research indicates it is ineffective & shark products contain high concentrations of highly poisonous mercury MYTH: Sharks don ’ t get sick FACT: Sharks get cancer and tumors

MYTH: Sharks fin soup: a sign of prosperity

FACT: Prosperity only for the mafia-like trading firms

MYTH: Sharks fin soup tastes great

FACT: Shark fin has no taste

MYTH: Shark cartilage cures arthritis, cancer, HIV

FACT: Research indicates it is ineffective & shark products contain high concentrations of highly poisonous mercury

MYTH: Sharks don ’ t get sick

FACT: Sharks get cancer and tumors

Bycatch is a huge problem Bycatch = in fishing, the unintended catch of species other than the ‘target’ species An estimated 50 million sharks are caught as bycatch each year Sharks are 25% of the total catch in the Australia long line tuna and billfish fishery and Fiji long line tuna fishery. Sharks are 32% of the Hawaii-based long line swordfish catch.

Bycatch = in fishing, the unintended catch of species other than the ‘target’ species

An estimated 50 million sharks are caught as bycatch each year

Sharks are 25% of the total catch in the Australia long line tuna and billfish fishery and Fiji long line tuna fishery.

Sharks are 32% of the Hawaii-based long line swordfish catch.

Sharks are especially vulnerable As apex predator, with few natural predators, sharks have evolved with a slow reproduction rate Most species take years to reach sexual maturity (sometimes over 12 years) They raise relatively few pups a year (sometimes only 2) In contrast, bony fish reach sexual maturity in months & lay millions of eggs No other fish is in as much danger of over-exploitation because of the value of shark fins Highly migratory – yet none are protected internationally People don ’ t care about them – media influence Lack of data – we don ’ t know how big the problem is Consumers are largely unaware of the issue – soup translates as “fish wing” in Chinese

As apex predator, with few natural predators, sharks have evolved with a slow reproduction rate

Most species take years to reach sexual maturity (sometimes over 12 years)

They raise relatively few pups a year (sometimes only 2)

In contrast, bony fish reach sexual maturity in months & lay millions of eggs

No other fish is in as much danger of over-exploitation because of the value of shark fins

Highly migratory – yet none are protected internationally

People don ’ t care about them – media influence

Lack of data – we don ’ t know how big the problem is

Consumers are largely unaware of the issue – soup translates as “fish wing” in Chinese

Life without sharks? Loss of the apex predator can un-cork havoc in the ocean environment Sharks control countless populations of fish species, including other predators Phytoplankton-feeding fish populations are likely to increase and consume more phytoplankton Phytoplankton produces 50-70% of earth ’ s oxygen More than all the trees and forests and jungles combined What happens to us when our source of oxygen declines? Loss of sharks will have unpredictable impact on our sea food Recent regional reports indicate dramatic and undesirable effects of local destruction of sharks – collapse of the mid-Atlantic scallop fisheries and death of coral reefs in Belize

Loss of the apex predator can un-cork havoc in the ocean environment

Sharks control countless populations of fish species, including other predators

Phytoplankton-feeding fish populations are likely to increase and consume more phytoplankton

Phytoplankton produces 50-70% of earth ’ s oxygen

More than all the trees and forests and jungles combined

What happens to us when our source of oxygen declines?

Loss of sharks will have unpredictable impact on our sea food

Recent regional reports indicate dramatic and undesirable effects of local destruction of sharks – collapse of the mid-Atlantic scallop fisheries and death of coral reefs in Belize

Changing the mindset … Changing our future.

The best shark conservation tool we have.

Shark angels www.sharkangels.com Join Rob on a new adventure…

Making a Difference

Will we save our sharks? Recent positive media released to counter balance myths Countries instituting national sharkfinning bans Younger Asian generation refusing shark fin soup Education, awareness and compassion is growing Shark tournaments starting to be shunned Local campaigns sprouting Conservation organizations uniting The movement is gaining momentum

Recent positive media released to counter balance myths

Countries instituting national sharkfinning bans

Younger Asian generation refusing shark fin soup

Education, awareness and compassion is growing

Shark tournaments starting to be shunned

Local campaigns sprouting

Conservation organizations uniting

Shark Savers aim to: Reduce demand for shark fins through education Improve the image of sharks End the practice of sharkfinning globally Raise awareness about threats to sharks Increase global pressure and legislation Be positively oriented – conservation and sharks can be cool Promote responsible fishing practices Join us in the critical fight to save ourselves. to save sharks

Reduce demand for shark fins through education

Improve the image of sharks

End the practice of sharkfinning globally

Raise awareness about threats to sharks

Increase global pressure and legislation

Be positively oriented – conservation and sharks can be cool

Promote responsible fishing practices

The movement is growing … But much work is left to be done.

What you can do Get involved. Join Shark Savers. Increase your Shark IQ: Learn more about sharks and the issue. Volunteer your time. Start a local campaign to ban shark fin soup. Get in the water with sharks! Dive with them. Increase shark tourism. Encourage everyone you know to see Sharkwater . Reduce fishing pressures: eat sensibly. (Use seafood choice cards). Fight for bycatch reduction legislation. Support shark research.

Get involved. Join Shark Savers.

Increase your Shark IQ: Learn more about sharks and the issue.

Volunteer your time. Start a local campaign to ban shark fin soup.

Get in the water with sharks! Dive with them. Increase shark tourism.

Encourage everyone you know to see Sharkwater .

Reduce fishing pressures: eat sensibly. (Use seafood choice cards).

Fight for bycatch reduction legislation.

Support shark research.

The sharks need your help Become a shark advocate – correct misconceptions and promote realistic perceptions. Do not support Yahoo (Alibaba sells shark fins) – or any organizations that support sharkfinning or fishing tournaments. Develop a voice. Be heard. Blog, write articles, appeal to your local media outlets. Pressure your local, national and even our international governing bodies to get involved. Combat the myths. Don’t support media outlets that portray sharks erroneously. Protect our reserves: keep illegal shark fishing out of Galapagos and Cocos Islands.

Become a shark advocate – correct misconceptions and promote realistic perceptions.

Do not support Yahoo (Alibaba sells shark fins) – or any organizations that support sharkfinning or fishing tournaments.

Develop a voice. Be heard. Blog, write articles, appeal to your local media outlets.

Pressure your local, national and even our international governing bodies to get involved.

Combat the myths. Don’t support media outlets that portray sharks erroneously.

Protect our reserves: keep illegal shark fishing out of Galapagos and Cocos Islands.

Join our fight to save the sharks www.sharksavers.org

To learn more: Shark Savers : www.sharksavers.org Saving Sharks: www.savingsharks.com Sea Shepherd : www.seashepherd.org Save Our Seas : www.saveourseas.com WildAid : www.wildaid.org Shark Trust : www.sharktrust.org Shark Alliance : www.sharkalliance.org Conserve Our Ocean Legacy: ww.oceanlegacy.org Oceana: www.oceana.org Shark Savers supports these organizations

Shark Savers : www.sharksavers.org

Saving Sharks: www.savingsharks.com

Sea Shepherd : www.seashepherd.org

Save Our Seas : www.saveourseas.com

WildAid : www.wildaid.org

Shark Trust : www.sharktrust.org

Shark Alliance : www.sharkalliance.org

Conserve Our Ocean Legacy: ww.oceanlegacy.org

Oceana: www.oceana.org

Save our Sharks NOW.