Saving the Great White Monster

Humans have been hunting sharks for thousands of years. But it wasn’t until the 1980s that humans began killing sharks in large numbers. Sharks were killed mainly for one reason: their fins. 

Why would someone want a shark fin? It’s a key ingredient in a food called shark fin soup. The soup is watery and filled with stringy strands of shark fin. 

For years, shark fin soup was a rare delicacy. But in the 1980s, the soup became more popular. As more people wanted the soup, the price went up. The fins of a great white shark were soon selling for hundreds of dollars each. 

Humans have been hunting sharks for thousands of years. But in the 1980s, humans began killing sharks in large numbers. Sharks were killed mainly for one reason: their fins. 

Why would someone want a shark fin? It’s an important ingredient in a food called shark fin soup. The soup is watery. It’s filled with thin strands of shark fin. 

For years, shark fin soup was a rare delicacy. But in the 1980s, the soup became more popular. More people wanted the soup. This caused the price to go up. The fins of a great white shark were soon selling for hundreds of dollars each.

Sharks are a type of fish that live in oceans all over the world. They’re one of Earth’s oldest and strongest creatures. 

For millions of years, sharks didn’t have much to fear. But recently, that has changed. Humans are killing about 100 million sharks every year. In some places, sharks have disappeared. Many types are now facing extinction. 

Humans mainly hunt sharks for one reason: their fins. Shark fins are an important ingredient in a food called shark fin soup. Not many people used to eat shark fin soup. But in the 1980s, it became more popular.

But some people around the world are working together to save sharks. Many countries, including the U.S., have banned cutting off sharks’ fins and leaving them to die. And a wildlife group called WildAid came up with a creative plan in China. 

WildAid’s leaders realized that few people in China knew that sharks were being killed in huge numbers—for soup. So WildAid made ads with some of China’s biggest stars explaining the danger sharks were in. The ads were hugely successful! Shark fin sales dropped by about 80 percent in some parts of the country. 

The U.S. recently took a big step too. People in the U.S. used to buy and sell shark fins for a lot of money. But in December 2022, the government banned people in the U.S. from buying or selling shark fins.

But some people around the world are working to save sharks. Many countries, including the U.S., have banned cutting off sharks’ fins and leaving the sharks to die. And there’s a wildlife group called WildAid in China. It came up with a creative plan. 

WildAid’s leaders realized something. Few people in China knew that sharks were being killed in huge numbers—for soup. So WildAid made ads with some of China’s biggest stars. The ads explained the danger sharks were in. They were hugely successful! Shark fin sales dropped by about 80 percent in some parts of the country. 

The U.S. recently took a big step too. People in the U.S. used to buy and sell shark fins for a lot of money. But in December 2022, the government banned people in the U.S. from buying or selling shark fins.

Some wildlife groups are working to save sharks. But it hasn’t been easy. Most people are afraid of sharks. Every year, about 100 humans are bitten by sharks. That’s awful. But these incidents are actually rare. You’re more likely to get killed by lightning than by a shark! 

Many people are still scared though. They think of sharks only as monsters. 

That’s changing. Some countries, including the U.S., have banned people from buying or selling shark fins. And a group called WildAid came up with a plan in China. It made ads with China’s biggest stars. The ads explained the danger sharks were in. They were successful! Shark fin sales dropped by about 80 percent in some parts of the country.

Sharks aren’t out of danger yet. But there’s still hope that they can continue to be the most powerful creature in the ocean for years to come. 

So imagine one last time that you are a great white shark. Things are improving for you. But you’re not out of danger yet.

For now, stay away from fishing boats with their long fishing lines and hooks. Steer clear of beaches packed with splashing swimmers.

But hang on to hope that one day, humans will no longer want to hurt you. Then you can remain the most powerful creature in the ocean for millions of years to come.  

So imagine one last time that you are a great white shark. Things are improving for you. But you’re not out of danger yet.

For now, stay away from fishing boats with their long fishing lines and hooks. Don’t go to beaches packed with swimmers.

But hang on to hope that one day, humans will no longer want to hurt you. Then you can continue to be the most powerful creature in the ocean for millions of years to come.