Maltese shark plea

The question going through many people's minds right now, after seeing the picture of the shortfin mako caught a couple of weeks ago is not just: "Is it safe to swim?" but "Are the fish farms attracting sharks?"

Sharks whose main prey is tuna will follow tuna, so a few years back, when tuna-farming was not practised, tuna migrated past the Maltese Islands every year and sharks followed. So whether it is tuna in a farm or tuna in the wild, sharks will be there. In fact, it was reported that the shortfin mako was trapped in the tuna fishing lines, chasing wild tuna.

It was a breath of fresh air for conservationists to see such a specimen, even though it was unfortunately killed, because it gave us proof that they still exist.

The Mako was merely doing a natural thing, feeding, and in the wild, feeding is as important for the prey as it is for the predator. Predators help keep the prey population healthy and under control, by removing any sick, old or injured individuals.

Why are sharks important in their ecosystem?
Sharks are among the most important of marine species, and are near or at the top of the food chain. In The Lion King, where lions played an important part by controlling wildebeest populations, so too do sharks form part of their own Circle of Life.

If sharks were removed from their ecosystem around the Maltese Islands, the effect could be to create an imbalance in the numbers of the species upon which they feed. This imbalance could in turn negatively affect the availability of food and other resources all the way down the food chain which could eventually threaten commercial fishing. For example, octopuses eat lobsters and sharks eat octopuses. A declining number of sharks could not control the octopuses eating the lobsters... and if that does not worry you, maybe this will. Sharks are immune to most diseases, including cancer, and are the subject of intense medical research that could one day benefit man.

We are more likely to be attacked by our own pet
Sharks can be dangerous to humans, but from around the 390 different species that exist, only a few are a risk to us. In fact, we are more likely to be hit by lightning than to be attacked by a shark. In the US alone, 100 people die each year from bee stings, compared to two people being killed by sharks. Facts like these can be found on the International Shark Attack File – www.flmnh.ufl.edu

The fact is, we are more likely to be attacked by our own pet, injure ourselves when doing DIY or get run over by a car than we are likely to be attacked by a shark. Knowing all this, we love our pets, try all types of DIY and some of us have two or more cars, yet one mention of the word "shark" can send shivers down people's spine.

I cannot put my hand on my heart and say that you will never, ever be harmed by a shark here in Malta, although what I can say and truly believe, is that one is safer in our sea than one is on our roads. But no one spends his whole life indoors, worried that he may be run over and killed. No one stops his child from going to school and to the playground.

We all know there are more deaths caused by cars (three deaths caused by cars in the first quarter of this year ref: nso.gov.mt) than shark attacks (none in at least 49 years).

Sharks have been around for millions of years – long before the dinosaurs – and they have survived numerous changes. However, from studies carried out over the years, it has been noted that shark numbers are declining rapidly. Many populations have fallen by around 80 per cent and many species still require protection. Sharks take a long time to reach maturity, some 14 years or more, so due to this and because most have small litters, the population takes a long time to recover.

Malta's legislation protects the great white shark, the basking shark and the devil ray.

The shortfin mako caught last week is the fastest shark. It spends its time in open waters and it too faces problems. The IUCN Redlist describes it as "LR/nt" (lower risk/near threatened) but close to "vulnerable". This means that this species is facing extinction in the wild in the near future.

Nature Trust (Malta) cares
We have around 38 different species of shark in Malta, ranging from mazzola to the great white.

Nature Trust (Malta) is embarking on a Shark, Skate and Ray Identification programme. This project will provide necessary information for scientists and conservation groups, to determine whether or not some species require protection.

Shark meat can be eaten. However, sharks are killed for a number of other reasons too, such as for their jaws, which can fetch a lot of money, for sport, or merely to prove one's strength. But the principal culprits are over fishing, sharks caught as by-catch and finning.

Shark finning, which is a gruesome requirement for making shark's fin soup, is inhumane as well as wasteful. In the practice of shark finning, sharks are caught, stripped of their fins and, while still living, dumped back into the sea, where they die an agonising death because they cannot swim.

These sharks need our help. We cannot let fear or discrimination get in the way of protection.

The question we should really be asking is: "Are we more dangerous to sharks than they are to us?"

If anyone requires more information on sharks, we have booklets and posters for 50c available from Nature Trust (Malta) PO Box 9, Valletta CMR 01, or you can order by email at info@naturetrustmalta.org

So can you swim this summer? My answer is "Yes. Go out and have fun, but stay safe from the sun".

Nature Trust Malta is organising a talk open to the general public this Wednesday at 6.30pm. Venue announced upon booking: Contact ntsec@waldonet.net.mt or 7947-2950 (during office hours).

Source: www.sharktrust.org