A List of My Favorite Sharks and Why :)

 Hammer Head Sharks: literally these ones are the cutest and you cannot tell me otherwise. I adore these with my whole heart and soul. The average size of these sharks is 11.5 feet, but the largest reported one was about 20 feet!!! They average about 500 lbs, but can weigh up to 1,000 lbs. 

Megalodon Sharks: These are genuinely terrifying. Although they are considered to be extinct, I have a theory that they actually are one of very few sea creatures that dwell in the absolute bottom of the ocean, a place where people have not yet been able to travel due to the pressure water causes on submarines. Body estimates for the meg range anywhere from 30 to 66 feet in length. That is anywhere from about 6 to 12 me's laying head to toe combined. Frightening. 

Mako Sharks: These short finned sharks are about 14 feet long in average. They belong to the white shark family. They normally do not go near the shore, but they are known for a few attacks on humans. They are also known for being one of the fastest sharks in the water. 

Bull Sharks: Bull sharks are unique for a couple reasons. First, they are one of very few saltwater sharks who can also survive in freshwater. They are very adaptable by nature, so it is easy for them to live in a multitude of places. Bull sharks are also known for being one of the most aggressive shark species there is. They are most commonly found in warm shallow waters along coast lines, or even in some rivers! They are normally about seven feet in length, and weigh in at roughly 190 -200 pounds. 

Great White Sharks: Great whites are one of the most well known sharks, and can be found in almost every ocean on earth. They are the largest predatory fish, and are known for being excellent hunters and swimmers. Fun fact, the largest shark caught was a great white in Australia who weighed 2,664 pounds. On average, most great whites get up to 16 feet long. 

Blue Sharks: Blue sharks are normally only 6 to 9 feet long and weigh about 60-120 pounds. They live in the deeper parts of the ocean, which makes sense when you think about the fact that their small size would probably make them want to stay out of the way of other predators. They mainly feed on squid and are most active at nighttime, when they have the advantage of darkness to cover them. When caught by fishermen, they face an unlucky fate. They are not as delectable to eat, but their fins, like many other sharks, are used for shark fin soup while their skin in often used to make leather for an array of things. 

If you made it this far in reading this blog post, you're probably wondering a few things. Why did the blue shark get such a tragic ending? What even is the point in my entire blog post being based on sharks. Here's why. 73 to 100 MILLION sharks are killed every year due to the removal of their fins. Nearly every day, fishermen go onto the ocean to catch sharks and remove their fins for soup. Although it may be a soup that some cultures are accustomed to, these millions of injured sharks are thrown back into the ocean where they are forced to die because they cannot swim without fins. They become easy prey for nearly every other predator in the ocean. The predator becomes the prey, and this causes a tragic shift in the aquatic ecosystem. There are few regulations followed when is it comes to shark hunting, and it is extremely important for people to be aware of the problems this is causing.