The Importance of Sharks

Public fascination and fear of sharks has been around for years. Movies like “Jaws”, “Sharknado”, and “Deep Blue Sea” pit humans against killer sharks — chasing them through watery depths ready to chomp at any moment. But sharks are actually an integral part of the ocean’s ecosystem with very little interest in humans.

Sharks are considered apex predators and sit at the top of their food chain. This allows them to help maintain populations of the species below them. They help remove the weak and the sick as well as keeping the balance with competitors helping to ensure species diversity. As shark populations have declined coral reefs, sea grass beds, and commercial fishing has suffered.