Zebra Sharks

 

This is one of my favorite sharks (I have a lot of favorites). 

Say hello to our slow-swimming friend, the Zebra Shark also known by their scientific name Stegostoma fasciatum. These sharks are non-aggressive and are bottom-dwelling sharks. When these sharks are babies, they have stripes just like a zebra, and when they become adults, these stripes become dots. In fact, their most common name in Australia is the Leopard Shark. 

These sharks are night hunters; during the day, they rest on the sea floor or "stand" on their pectoral (side) fins. These sharks can also wedge their way into tight spaces!

You can find Zebra Sharks in coral reefs located in areas like the Western Pacific Ocean. These sharks eat things like snails and bivalves but will also eat crabs, shrimps, and small bony fishes. The way that their mouths are helps them to grip, crush, and pulverize enclosed shells. Because of this, they are a massive value to keeping the population dynamics down of these species that they prey on. 

The reasons for the decline in their numbers are for many different reasons, which include they are caught for their meat which is then eaten either fresh or even like jerky. Their fins are also used for shark fin soup which is popular in China, and in fact, in some places, you can get shark fin soup for $100. It is also used in Chinese medicines. The process of "finning" is also a reason for their decline as well. Finning is when sharks are caught, and then the high-value parts of their bodies are stripped off, and then they are thrown back into the ocean where they will die. Their habitats are also taken away, and they lose their homes. 

If these sharks end up extinct, the prey that they eat will soon become out of control, and by losing the thing that keeps the numbers down, the area will become infested.

Currently, there are laws preventing sharks from falling victim to finning. In fact, in 2000, the United States passed a law that forbids shark finning and possessing shark fins without the shark bodies and prohibits many foreign fishing vessels from shark finning in the United States exclusive economic zone. You also have places like Canada, Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand that are managing shark fisheries. 

By using geography and these geospatial tools, we are able to look at their habitats and see how we can prevent further destruction of their resourceful habitat. 

There are many ways that people can help spread the word to save these beautiful babies! 

1.) Download ocean activities and learn about how you can help save the oceans 

2.) Make your voices heard and support policy changes for the ocean

3.) You can donate to places like Oceana.org, where they have already helped protect 4 million square miles of the ocean 

https://act.oceana.org/page/128988/donate

4.) Educate anyone about the importance of these animals and the importance of how they help the oceans

5.) You can adopt these animals and spread awareness! 

https://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/zebra_shark
https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/zebra-shark

https://oceana.org/marine-life/zebra-shark/