Shark Awareness Blog
We are feature awareness blogs on certain sharks found in and around the Galapagos & Hawaii. See how we’re making an impact in the short video below!
How is the climate crisis impacting sharks?
Sharks are affected in a number of ways. Firstly, the warmer waters affect shark behaviour, causing them to migrate to areas they have never seen before. As many sharks are apex predators, these changes in their movements can have huge effects on oceanic ecosystems. A difference of 1°C might not sound that bad – in fact, it might sound quite pleasant, especially if you live in a chillier part of the world! But our global climate is a finely tuned system; seemingly small changes can have big knock-on effects. For example, the warmer temperatures are causing sea ice in the polar regions to melt and thus sea levels to rise, placing coastal communities in danger.
The effects of
human impact
Temperatures Rise!
The impact of climate change on our oceans cannot be ignored. They play a vital role in reducing the effects of greenhouse gases by absorbing excess CO2. Unfortunately, this has resulted in warming and increased acidity levels. The increase in acidity affects the availability of calcium for corals to grow, leading to fewer and smaller creatures with shells or calcium skeletons. This disruption can have severe consequences on the ecosystem. Additionally, melting sea ice affects ocean currents, further threatening marine life. All these factors combine to affect the composition, structure, and function of marine ecosystems and food webs.
Heatwaves
Sea levels have been rising at an accelerated pace in recent decades due to the melting of polar ice on Earth. In 2021, the average sea level reached a new record high, increasing by around 4.5 millimeters per year between 2013 and 2021.
Save the coral reefs!
Coral reefs are incredibly important ecosystems that hold great ecological and economic value. Despite covering less than 0.1% of the world's ocean, they provide a home for over 25% of marine biodiversity. Moreover, they offer coastal protection, fisheries, medicinal sources, recreational opportunities, and tourism revenue to about a billion people.
The Hammerhead Shark
Featured Sharks
The Galapagos Shark
