Predator and Prey

Just hearing the word shark sends shivers down many people’s spines. That fear is mainly due to one species, the great white shark. It’s easy to see why. These ferocious predators can be more than 20 feet long. Their massive, powerful jaws are lined with up to 300 razor-sharp teeth.

But the great white is just one of more than 500 shark species. Macdonald points out that most sharks are only a few feet long—and have no interest in hunting us. 

Just hearing the word shark sends shivers down many people’s spines. That fear is mainly due to one species, the great white shark. It’s easy to see why. These ferocious predators can be more than 20 feet long. Their massive, powerful jaws are lined with up to 300 razor-sharp teeth.

But the great white is just one of more than 500 shark species. Macdonald points out that most sharks are only a few feet long. She says they usually have no interest in hunting us. 

^{Source: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention}

“You’re in much more danger driving to the beach than you are from a shark at the beach,” she says. “But we drive every day, and therefore that feels safe to us.”

Shark attacks do happen, of course, but they’re extremely rare. Out of the countless people who swam in the world’s oceans last year, only nine were killed by sharks. Meanwhile, according to some estimates, humans kill about 100 million sharks each year. 

^{Source: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention}

“You’re in much more danger driving to the beach than you are from a shark at the beach,” she says. “But we drive every day, and therefore that feels safe to us.”

Shark attacks do happen, of course. But they’re extremely rare. Countless people swam in the world’s oceans last year. Out of all those people, only nine were killed by sharks. Meanwhile, according to some estimates, humans kill about 100 million sharks each year. 

About one-third of all shark species are at risk of extinction. Their numbers have mainly been depleted because of overfishing. That is being driven largely by demand for shark fins, which are used to make a soup popular in some Asian nations. Many sharks are also accidentally scooped up in nets meant to catch other fish.

About one-third of all shark species are at risk of extinction. Their numbers have mainly been depleted because of overfishing. That is being driven largely by demand for shark fins. The fins are used to make a soup popular in some Asian nations. Many sharks are also accidentally scooped up in nets meant to catch other fish.

^{Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations}

The loss of sharks can be bad news for the health of ocean ecosystems. Large shark species, like great whites, feast on other fish and large marine creatures. That prevents the populations of those animals from growing out of control. 

Plus, sharks of all sizes keep other species healthy by preying on sick or weaker animals. If sharks were to disappear, the entire food chain, down to the smallest plant-like organisms, could be thrown off balance.

^{Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations}

The loss of sharks can be bad news for the health of ocean ecosystems. Large shark species, like great whites, feast on other fish and large marine creatures. That prevents the populations of those animals from growing out of control. 

Plus, sharks of all sizes prey on sick or weaker animals. That helps keep those other species healthy. If sharks were to disappear, the entire food chain could be thrown off balance. This would affect all sea creatures, down to the smallest plant-like organisms.

Recognizing the importance of sharks, the U.S. banned the hunting of great whites and four other species in 1997. In the past 25 years, the government has passed several other laws protecting sharks in U.S. waters. As a result, some species, including the great white, have slowly made a comeback in U.S. coastal areas. 

Macdonald points out that this recovery hasn’t led to a notable increase in the number of attacks on people. Still, she realizes that many people will continue to be fearful of sharks. But, she says, that shouldn’t stop them from caring about shark conservation. 

“You don’t need to love something to acknowledge it has a right to exist and an important role in the ecosystem,” Macdonald says.

Recognizing the importance of sharks, the U.S. banned the hunting of great whites and four other species in 1997. In the past 25 years, the government has passed several other laws protecting sharks in U.S. waters. As a result, some species have slowly made a comeback in U.S. coastal areas. The great white is one species that has recovered.

Macdonald points out that this recovery hasn’t led to a notable increase in the number of attacks on people. Still, she realizes that many people will continue to be fearful of sharks. But, she says, that shouldn’t stop them from caring about shark conservation. 

“You don’t need to love something to acknowledge it has a right to exist and an important role in the ecosystem,” Macdonald says.

1. Why do you think the author chose the title “Predator and Prey” for this article?

2. According to the article, why do many people fear sharks?

3. How does the author support the claim that the loss of sharks is bad for oceans?

1. Why do you think the author chose the title “Predator and Prey” for this article?

2. According to the article, why do many people fear sharks?

3. How does the author support the claim that the loss of sharks is bad for oceans?