Sharks Are Older Than Trees, So Why Are We Wiping Them Out?
Let’s just start with the mic drop:
Sharks are older than trees.
Let that sink in for a second.
They’ve been patrolling Earth’s oceans for over 400 million years; surviving mass extinctions, continental drift, and whatever nonsense the planet was up to before we had breathable air. They’ve seen it all. And now? In just a few short decades of human meddling, they’re disappearing at a terrifying rate.
This post isn’t here to scare you. Well, okay…maybe just a little. But mostly it’s here to explain what’s going on with sharks, why they’re so important, what would happen if they disappeared, and how you (yes, you) can help. Even if you’ve never swum in anything deeper than a kiddie pool.
A Brief History of Sharks: The Original Apex Legends
Sharks have been gliding through ancient seas since the Silurian period, back when fish didn’t even have jaws yet and land was mostly just moss and bugs. The earliest shark-like creatures (think armored, eel-shaped nightmares) evolved into the sleeker, finned beauties we know today.
Here’s the evolutionary highlight reel:
400 million years ago: First shark-like fish appear
360 million years ago: True sharks evolve
200 million years ago: Sharks survive the Permian extinction (when 90% of marine life died)
65 million years ago: Dinosaurs go extinct, sharks don’t even flinch
Today: Humans invent trawling nets, shark fin soup, and “Jaws”
Sharks are living fossils. But unlike actual fossils, they’re still doing their job, regulating ecosystems, keeping food webs balanced, and making the ocean work. Basically, sharks are nature’s quality control department. And we’re laying them off in bulk.
The Sharkpocalypse: How Fast Are They Disappearing?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
We’ve killed over 70% of oceanic sharks and rays since the 1970s.
Some species have declined by more than 90% in just the last 50 years.
Let’s put that into human perspective. That’s like if almost everyone born before 1970 just… vanished. Gone.
The biggest culprits:
Overfishing
Bycatch (sharks caught in nets meant for other fish)
Shark finning (cutting off fins and dumping the rest overboard)
Habitat destruction
Climate change
And don’t forget the PR problem:
Jaws. Shark Week. Every news story that treats a rare shark encounter like a serial killer is loose at the beach.
We don’t protect what we fear. And that’s a problem…because sharks are the least of our problems in the water.
Why Sharks Matter More Than You Think
Let’s talk about the ocean for a second. It covers 71% of the Earth and produces over half of the oxygen we breathe.
It also regulates climate, absorbs carbon dioxide, and feeds billions of people.
And guess who helps keep that whole system stable?
You guessed it…sharks.
Here’s how:
They control populations of mid-level predators (which keeps the ecosystem balanced)
They prevent overgrazing of seagrass and coral reefs
They remove sick, weak, or dying animals, acting like natural cleanup crews
Without sharks, prey populations explode, which collapses other species, which ruins coral reefs, which disrupts carbon storage… and then you’re spiraling into a full ecosystem collapse.
They’re not just “big scary fish.” They’re keystone species. Take them out, and the ocean gets messy, really fast.
Sharks Are Basically Nature’s Sci-Fi Experiments
Let’s not skip over how cool they are.
Sharks:
Have electroreception, meaning they can sense the bioelectric fields of other animals
Replace their teeth thousands of times over their lifetime
Can detect a drop of blood in an Olympic-sized pool
Some glow in the dark (hi, lantern shark)
Some have been known to live over 500 years (Greenland shark, anyone?)
They’re so advanced that scientists are still trying to figure out how their immune systems work. Sharks rarely get cancer, which has inspired ongoing research into cancer prevention and aging.
We’re out here building billion-dollar labs to study problems sharks already solved 200 million years ago.
What Happens If Sharks Disappear?
Let’s play out the nightmare scenario.
Sharks go extinct. What happens?
Smaller predator populations explode. That means fish like rays and groupers take over.
Overgrazing destroys seagrass beds and coral reefs.
Entire species collapse from overpredation. It’s the marine version of locusts.
Oxygen production drops. Carbon absorption weakens.
Fisheries fail. Coastal communities starve.
Ocean becomes uninhabitable for large chunks of marine life.
In short: no sharks, no ocean stability.
And no, we can’t just “replace” them. There’s no backup apex predator with the same ecological skillset. Sharks are the system.
Why Isn’t More Being Done?
Good question.
Some countries have made huge strides (like Palau, the Bahamas, and the Maldives), which have banned shark fishing entirely. Others, like the U.S. and EU, have banned shark finning but still allow massive “legal” shark catch.
The problem is threefold:
Sharks reproduce slowly. Many species only have a few pups every couple of years.
International waters are hard to regulate. The ocean is huge, and enforcement is a nightmare.
Demand is still high. Especially for fins, meat, and even shark liver oil (yep, it’s in some cosmetics).
And while documentaries have helped boost awareness, public policy hasn’t caught up. We save pandas and elephants because they’re cute. Sharks are a harder sell.
So, What Can You Do?
Here’s the good news: You don’t have to swim with sharks or protest on a beach to help.
(Although if that’s your thing, you do you.)
Here’s what actually works:
1. Check Your Products
Avoid cosmetics or supplements that list squalene or shark liver oil (it might be sourced from deep-sea sharks).
Affiliate link: I switched to this reef-safe, vegan squalane serum, it works just as well and doesn’t come from a 200-year-old liver.
2. Eat Sustainable Seafood
Sharks often get caught as bycatch in tuna and swordfish fisheries.
Use apps like Seafood Watch to pick ocean-friendly choices.
3. Sign the Petitions
Groups like Shark Allies and WildAid are constantly fighting for global shark protections. A 30-second signature does help.
4. Donate to the Right Groups
Even $5 to legit nonprofits goes toward satellite tracking, education, and enforcement programs that protect critical shark habitats.
5. Talk About It
Seriously. Post about it. Write about it. Tell your friends.
Sharks don’t need a better PR agent…they need a million amateur ones.
The Sharks Worth Knowing (and Loving)
If you’re not already fully on Team Shark, let me introduce you to a few species you’ll probably fall in love with:
Whale Shark: Gentle giant the size of a school bus. Filter feeder. Hangs out in warm waters looking majestic.
Hammerhead Shark: Literal radar head. Better eyesight, better electro-sensing, plus those weird-cool vibes.
Greenland Shark: Moves at 1 mph. Can live over 500 years. Has wisdom. Probably writes poetry.
Thresher Shark: Uses its giant tail to stun prey. A whip-slapper of the deep.
Goblin Shark: Okay, hear me out…it’s ugly, yes. But it’s like the underdog of evolution. I kind of love it.
Shark Facts You’ll Want to Drop at Parties
Sharks existed before Mount Everest did.
The word “shark” likely comes from the Mayan word xoc, pronounced “shock.”
Baby sharks are called pups.
Some sharks can detect vibrations from miles away.
A group of sharks is called a shiver…which feels deeply correct.
Sharks Aren’t Monsters, They’re Mirrors
If there’s one thing I want you to walk away with, it’s this:
Sharks aren’t the villains in this story. We are.
They’re not lurking in the shallows plotting a bite. They’re just doing what they’ve always done, keeping the oceans clean, balanced, and weirdly beautiful.
We’re the ones with nets, motors, and a tendency to destroy what we don’t understand.
But the good news?
We also have the power to stop.
To educate. To preserve. To protect creatures who’ve survived literal eons, only to be threatened now by ignorance and greed.
If You’re Into Sharks, You’ll Love…
…this weirdly related post about how plants might be gossiping underground.
Nature’s full of secrets…and I’m trying to uncover all of them.
