| One of the more dangerous forms of recreation at present is shark fishing. There are only a handful of dedicated shark fishermen who have the guts to go after these fish. Their usual targets are the whale sharks, blue sharks and the tiger sharks, which easily proliferate their species as compared to the hammerhead shark and the great white shark which are nearing extinction. Whale sharks usually have twenty eight pups every year, wherein they can fend for themselves after being born. Tiger sharks have around fifty four pups a year. Aside from the danger that comes with shark fishing, shark fishermen are also being bombarded by animal preservation groups as to their shark fishing escapades which supposedly makes the sharks endangered species.
Unfortunately, those doing the great damage on the sharks population are the people who look for them for profit, ignorant of the type of shark that they get, as long as they are able to sell. This practice has been seen in the central American region andAsian region and other third world countries. Most shark fishermen catch them for the reason of tagging them and releasing them back into the water to be able to gather research on their migratory patterns and sometimes, for the distinct taste of their meat. It is really hard work to catch a shark while exercising caution. The maximum number of sharks most seasoned shark fishermen catch is five per year. Most of the time, they just catch them, tag and release.
Sharks play a vital role in the marine ecosystem which is why there are several organizations that are devoted to shark conservation. Sharks are prone to dwindle in numbers due to excessive hunting for them since they are supposed to live longer, take a long time to mature and produce only a few young pups at a time. Recovery from this damage can take several years which is why these sharks are in need of conservation.
Sharks do not actually look for humans for their meal. They sometimes just mistake them for a marine animal like a fish or sea turtle and will often let go of the person after tasting them. Unfortunately, a shark's bite is far from being mild, and most often severe enough to require stitches. As with all fishes, they attack when they are hungry, or when provoked.
The main reason sharks are being hunted in big numbers is because of its profitability. The shark's meat has its own distinct flavor and taste, usually seen in certain dishes served as delicacies like shark's fin soup, etc. Their skin is usually made into bags and shoes because of its toughness while some medications are derived from the oil taken from their body. Many people will pay big money to be able to avail of these parts. And the poor ignorant fishermen will gather as much shark as they can, irregardless of both their safety and the shark's dwindling population. Many countries have already made strict regulations in the fishing of these species and yet, the problem continues to grow worse.
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