Display Your Knowledge - There Isn't Always Plenty of Fish in the Sea

What is the BIG IDEA of this display?

• The decline of the cod industry in Newfoundland

• Commercial fishing practices have negatively impacted marine ecosystems

• Overfishing and its' affect on shark populations

• High monetary and cultural value for shark fins in certain societies, has reduced the number of 'fish in the sea'

What are some effects of 'overfishing'? (multiple answer ~ choose all that apply)

• Major cause of declines in ocean wildlife populations.

• Over 30% of world's fisheries have been pushed far beyond their biological limit (WWF, 2018)

• Sharks grow relatively slowly, take many years to mature and produce relatively few young, making them particularly vulnerable to over-exploitation.

• Creates an imbalance in ecosystems that can erode the food web.

Last year, of the approx. 100 million sharks killed for various reasons, what proportion were killed for their fins?

• one quarter (1/4) or 25%

• one half (1/2) or 50%

• three quarters (3/4) or 75%

• two thirds (2/3) or 67%

'Finning' is the slicing off of a shark’s dorsal, side and rear fins and discarding the rest of the still-living body, often by dumping it back into the ocean.

• TRUE

• FALSE

A recent study from the University of British Colombia projected that shark ECOTOURISM will be worth more than the global shark FISHERIES in just a few years.

• TRUE

• FALSE

What can we do to help protect shark populations in Canadian oceans? (multiple answers ~ select all that apply)

• Your 'consumer dollar' is powerful ... avoid buying shark products (teeth, shark fin soup, etc.)

• use #savethesharks on social media

• Donate $ to a reputable organization like 'World Wildlife Fund Canada' where 84 cents/dollar goes towards wildlife conservation.

• Educate yourself about this topic by reading and watching documentaries on the subject.

• All of the above

According to the WWF-Canada website (one of the sources listed for this display), what are the biggest threats to sharks in Canadian waters? (multiple answers ~ choose all that apply)

• Unsustainable fishing practices such as bycatch, the unintentional capture of sharks in commercial fishing nets.

• Climate change is causing changes to the marine environment which is affecting shark species living in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans.

• Growing trade in shark fins for their cultural value leads to overfishing.

• Close to half of the 28 species of sharks found in Canadian waters are now listed on the 'threatened with extinction' list.

Think proportionally ...

In one year, if 94 humans are killed by sharks vs. 100 million sharks killed by humans ... which is correct?

• 1 human life taken by sharks = over 1 million sharks killed by humans (that's a LOT!)

• 1 human life taken by sharks = 8,333,333 shark killed by humans (that's a LOT!)

• 1 human life taken by sharks = 273,972 sharks killed by humans (that's a LOT!)

• 1 human life taken by sharks = almost 2 million sharks killed by humans (that's a LOT!)

What are some ways shark species are being protected globally?

• 2013, Convention International Trade Endangered Species - Fishing is required to be sustainable, giving shark species additional protection.

• 2010, Shark Conservation Act - All sharks caught in U.S. waters must be brought to shore with their fins still attached.

• 2012, Chinese Government - To decrease the cultural value of fins, the serving of shark fin soup at official banquets has been prohibited.

• All of the above

According to the 'Sharks Need <3 Too!' image, which of the following are listed as species of sharks? (multiple answer ~ choose all that apply)

• hammerhead

• blue

• green

• shortfin