Carrie+C’s+2016+OpEd+Article



Don’t let your irrational fear of an innocent creature result in unnecessary death.

That bee flying around you doesn’t deserve to die just because you are insecure about your “safety”, despite the fact that you obviously pose much more of a threat to it than it does to you. Yes, I do take the phrase “she wouldn’t hurt a fly” quite literally.

You may dismiss me as an extremist tree hugger. But the thing is, this isn’t just about releasing that spider outside as opposed to killing it; this destructive mindset, when in the brains of billions of people, has a much more global magnitude.

When I say “shark”, what do you think? Jaws? A huge great white with bloodied teeth ready to rip you to shreds? A terrifying monster that poses a threat to all swimmers?

What about a misunderstood victim of humans’ never ending hunger for blood?

Shark attacks kill on average 12 people a year. Humans kill 11,000 sharks - every hour.

Sharks are killed in a process called “finning” where the entire animal dies but only the dorsal fin is harvested for use in meals as well as holistic medicines. There’s no way you can convince me that the killing of sharks is justified or that humans aren’t the top predators of the world. Yes, I understand that sharks look scary. I definitely agree that being eaten by a shark would not be a good way to go. But you are eleven times more likely to be killed by fireworks and 47 times more likely to die from lightning.

So why is there such a widespread fear of sharks? Who is to blame for the unnecessary panic? The answer is that which usually causes unnecessary fear: the media. Think about every time you see a shark featured in a movie. Are they ever once shown in a positive light? And at amusement parks like Seaworld shark exhibits are titled things like “Shark Attack Encounter” accompanied by an image of those famous teeth.

In reality, sharks are much more than vicious creatures that are out for blood. Sharks are found in every ocean of the world and play a crucial role in maintaining marine ecosystems. Scientists predict that if sharks continue to be killed at the current rate, many species will be lost forever with irreparable consequences to the environment.

I know that many people even after reading all this will continue to fear sharks. That’s not the problem I’m trying to address. Ideally, no one would fear sharks, but I understand that that’s just not realistic. Rather, I would hope that even those who cannot shake that fear would understand how crucial sharks are to the Earth instead of thinking that the death of all sharks would solve their terror.

Sharks are friends, not food.