SARASOTA, Fla. — New analysis from MOTE Marine and FIU scientists confirmed that sharks are in hassle.
A brand new research exhibits that greater than 70 p.c of the species that find yourself in the global shark fin commerce are at risk of extinction.
Shark fin soup is a delicacy in Asian international locations, costing as a lot as $100 a bowl, and the dearth of rules are inflicting sharks to be over-fished.
In their analysis, scientists sampled 10,000 trimmings from shark fins bought in Hong Kong. Using DNA to determine the species of origin, they decided that two-thirds of these sharks and rays are threatened with extinction.
Demian Chapman is the director of the sharks and rays conservation program at MOTE Marine in Sarasota and was one of the lead researchers on the fin commerce research. He stated sharks are a vital half of the ecosystem.
“They’ve been part of our ecosystem for hundreds of millions of years so an ocean without sharks and their relatives, is a sick ocean. It’s something we don’t want to see,” stated Chapman.
Chapman stated he is hopeful that this new analysis will encourage international locations to work collectively to create higher rules to avoid wasting the sharks.