It is often said that sharks need to be in constant motion to keep oxygen-rich water flowing through their gills... but that is a misconception!! There are some sharks (like the cute nurse shark) which can lie in the bottom of the sea and gulp water to keep breahing.

I've been trying the same strategy, but every time I try to gulp water I inexplicably end up with half a cake shoved down my throat. These eager tourists are really having an impact on my waistline!

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I did this as a piece to celebrate 2021 Shark Week. I find it really important to spread the word and emphasize that sharks are not only not scary, but also incredibly valuable organisms in their ecosystem. They keep fish populations in check and are a sign that coral reefs are healty and thriving.

But sharks are still largely villainized. They keep being prtrayed as murderous cold blooded predators who, at the whiff if the tiniest drop of blood, they will go out of their way to chase and attack humans.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Every year, an average of about 80 people report having a shark attack per year. By contrast, it is estimated that 100 million sharks are killed by humans each year. All these deaths are a result of recreational and commercial fishing activities, sometimes for their fins to perpare soup, often as by-catch when fishing for tuna or shrimp, and also intentionally for their meat. I didn't know this but apparently, sharks are the most common seafood item in Japan and Austrialia. Consumers don't realize it because the name of the meat offen changes depending on how it is served (e.g. flake, surimi, fish paste, fish and cips...).

Now who is the real predator here, I ask you?

And we can do better. Learning about this amazing animals goes a long way, but you can do much more for these fantastic creatures! Here are some ideas:
■ DON'T EAT SHARK FIN SOUP!!!

■ Try to be informed about the practices and the source of the seafood you buy. There are great apps that you can use to help determine how good is the seafood you purchase. I recommend Seafood Watch by the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

■ Limit your consumption of seafood. It is not only about not eating shark fins or shark meat because sharks are very often captured as bycatch, and they die in the process. Bycatch is an inevitable part of our current fishing techniques.

■ Support organizations and sanctuaries that help with the protection of sharks and their habitat. I would suggest Shark Conservation Fund and the Shark Research Institute, but I encourage you to find others and help them know that people care about SHARKS!

■ And finally, telling people about sharks, and learning how to behave when they are around is crucial to get rid of that negative impression that people have about these marvelous marine dwellers. Communication is key. And don't believe everything that Hollywood says about them!

Thanks for reading. I'm off my soapbox for now!

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Sharktzin and artwork © yours truly,  dragontzin