We’re going to need a bigger boat

Sharks are apex predators that control the diversity of an ecosystem by consuming

 various organisms. One of the most common types of sharks in the Florida Keys is the nurse shark. Nurse sharks can grow from 7.5 feet to nearly ten feet in length but can reach up to 14 feet and spend a majority of their time on the sea floor. Although they appear docile they will bite if disturbed or stepped on. The diet of nurse sharks consists mostly of fish, squid and shrimp but they will also consume parts of coral and shellfish. Their bodies are gray-brown in color and have tails in which the top fin can be a fourth of their body length.

  As mentioned, nurse sharks are common in the Florida Keys but can also be found in shallow, warm waters in the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific oceans. These sharks are not of conservation concern but interactions with humans is putting pressure on the species. In some cases these sharks may get caught in fishing nets and other forms of fishing gear. One of the biggest threats to all shark species including nurse sharks is the demand for shark fin soup, a popular dish in Southeast Asia. Many sharks are caught and killed for their fins and the bodies are discarded back into the ocean. Unfortunately millions of sharks of many different species are killed for for their fins. Other reasons for sharks to be caught and/or killed are for their teeth that are seen in souvenir shops, to make oil, and as trophies to mount on walls.

 

Fortunately institutions such as Nova Southeastern University conduct research on the diets of sharks that are found in local waters so they can determine if the food supply is sufficient or not. They will study the radioactive isotope signatures in the tissue samples that they collect from the sharks and based on the signatures they can determine what the sharks are eating. The institution also uses forensic science to conduct surveys of the largest shark fin market in Hong Kong. Using this technology scientists can determine where shark fins have originated from when they are taken from people who illegally smuggle them into the US. As more research is gathered, scientists can provide evidence that will allow sharks to be protected from being exploited for soup. Sharks are crucial to marine ecosystems around the world, without sharks the ecosystems will perish, henceforth why conservation is important to keep ecosystems alive.

http://www.nova.edu/research/areas/index.html

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/n/nurse-shark/