Why the fear, when not all sharks are predators

Dubai - Mannix Pabalan, a seasoned Filipino diver says sharks along the coast of Fujairah are reef sharks

"Not all sharks are predators and most, if not all, of the sharks along the coast of Fujairah are reef sharks."
This is the assurance given by seasoned Filipino diver Mannix Pabalan, who is also a long-time resident of Fujairah.
"In my numerous dives, I have also seen white and black tip sharks, Nurse Shark and Mako Sharks off the coast of Fujairah in Al Aqqah and Dibba. But these sharks are non predators and mainly feed on fish," said Pabalan, who is also a certified Coral Propagator under the aegis of SeaQuest.
He added that there is always danger in diving but there safety precautions and "we should always be mindful of our surroundings and alert at all times."
Pabalan told Khaleej Times: "The underwater world is something that anyone with the right attitude, training and equipment must experience."
"More than the diving, we espouse our roles as stewards of Mother Earth by taking responsibility in coral propagation, coral farming and nursery. I think this is the most important philosophy we adhere to as divers," Pabalan underlined.
In an earlier interview with Khaleej Times, Paul Hamilton, general manager and curator at Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, said: "It is important to educate the public about the endangered marine species."
"That is our key priority at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo and we're glad to be able to reflect that mission aimed at focusing on raising awareness and boosting conservation efforts by connecting guests with endangered animals in an immersive platform."
"When you come here, you will not just see sharks," Hamilton said. "You will learn more about sharks and you will have you a greater understanding about the animal and, hopefully, help change the way you think about sharks."
Hamilton said that aquariums like the one at The Dubai Mall help "spread the message of marine conversation."
"We hope it will help shape human behaviour, especially the school children. Without exposure to marine animals, the majority of the planet's human population would live with total disregard for nature, and unfortunately species they never knew about would become extinct. Our aquarium animals are ambassadors for their kind, and every visitor takes away a moment that will leave some impression on them," he said.
Meanwhile, shark expert Joe Romero said around 70 to 100 millions sharks worldwide die every year because of humans and this alarming trend could soon wipe out the marine species. Marine conservationists also noted that eight per cent of shark fins sent to Hong Kong come from the Arabian Sea.
They play an important role
Sharks play an important role in maintaining the food web and marine balance in our ocean's ecosystem - they are one of the top predators of the seas.
But many shark species have been over exploited because their fins are highly valued for shark fin soup. Some sharks are captured in fisheries and also as by-catch in other non-directed fisheries.
There are also biological factors that leave many species of sharks vulnerable to overfishing. Sharks are characterised by relatively slow growth, late sexual maturity, and a small number of young per brood.
Compounding the situation is the general lack of data reporting on the catch of sharks but as demand for shark products continue to rise, some shark species are already considered as endangered.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an international organisation working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, there are 465 shark species in the world.
They are grouped into four categories, in order of vulnerability: near threatened, vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered.
Eleven species, including Ganges shark and Angel sharks, are considered 'critically endangered'; 15 species are in the 'endangered' list, including great hammerhead and broadfin shark.
Categorised as 'vulnerable' are 48 species such as whale shark, great white shark and basking shark; while near threatened are 67 species that include bull shark and tiger shark.
There is also a fifth category that falls under the classification as "data deficient" which means the IUCN lacks sufficient data to make a determination. This is equivalent to 45 per cent of the shark species assessed, which requires the need for further study and research.
angel@khaleejtimes.com

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