Do the tags hurt?
This is a legitimate concern and something we have also struggled with. However, when we think of what is at stake - entire species that have existed for 400 million years, and we consider the important information that each tag provides - identifying their critical habitats for protection, we believe that it is necessary sacrifice. In the last 40 years their numbers have plummeted due to over fishing (some species are 90% depleted!!). As top predators for so many millions of years they have adapted a life history that "self-regulates" their own populations - slow reproduction. Therefore, they cannot sustain the additional mortality that humans inflict. We realize that everyone might not agree. But it is a decision that we have made, and something that we certainly do not take lightly.

However, some facts about sharks are reassuring. Sharks generally heal very quickly from wounds relative to other animals. Also, they are tough. During the mating season we often see large cuts on their backs and dorsal fins, where they give each other "love bites". To us they seem like very deep cuts, but in a matter of week they appear much less so. And a month or so after mating season, virtually no traces of the bites remain (no scarring). In comparison, the small dart that we insert below the skin seems like a tiny splinter.


Are sharks dangerous to humans?
Unfortunately, sharks have been given a very bad reputation. In reality, there are over 400 different shark species in our oceans of which very few (such as the bull shark, great white shark, and tiger shark) can be potentially dangerous to humans. The likelihood of being attacked by a shark is less than being hit by lightening. The average number of shark attacks worldwide is approximately 50 per year with the majority being non-fatal attacks. If you want to learn more about shark attacks and behaviors, go to www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/isaf/isaf.htm


How can I protect myself against shark attacks or accidents?
The best way to protect yourself against a shark is to study the behavior and gain as much knowledge and experience with sharks as possible. It will soon become apparent that sharks prefer to avoid humans. Many of the Adoptashark.com members are experienced scuba divers and have spent hours in the water with sharks. They suggest the following:

1. Avoid swimming, surfing or surface activitie in close proximity to seals or sea lions in areas where great white sharks are known to roam. There is a small chance you could be mistaken for food by the great white.

2. Do not enter the water if you have an open wound.

3. When we enter the water we are sharing the ocean with animals that make it their home. Always apply common sense and most importantly, respect the shark like you would any other animal in the wild.


What is the role of sharks in the ocean?
Sharks play an important roles in the marine ecosystem. As top-level predators, they help control many fish and marine mammal populations. By eating the weak or diseased animals they help keep the ecosystem healthy.


How are sharks and rays different from fish?
Sharks have a lot of structural similarities to other fishes. However, there are some significant differences as well. The biggest difference is that while fishes have bony skeletons, sharks have skeletons made mostly of cartilage. Shark fins are usually thicker and stiffer and lack the spines of bony fish fins. The gills of sharks are visible externally while those of most bony fish are covered by a bony plate, called an operculum or gill cover. Finally, while fishes are covered by scales, sharks' skins are covered by dermal denticles, a layer of tiny "teeth."


What can I do to help shark conservation?
If you have donated to this program, you have already taken your first step towards participating in shark conservation. We need your help to be able to do this important work and we are very grateful for your support.

The first step towards achieving change is through educating yourself and others about sharks, their conservation status and the importance of their survival in the ocean. You can help by avoiding eating or using shark products, such as shark cartillage pills, shark meat, shark liver oil, and shark fin soup. Research sea food sources to make sure you are supporting sustainable fisheries.

Finally write to you government representatives and urge them to support and prioritize ocean conservation and the creation of marine protected areas. Our ocean resources are finite and we must act now to ensure that our children and grand children enjoy them as well.

Looking at the not too distant past, just a few generations, we can see where a terrible mistake was made. In Europe and the Americas, all the big predators, the bear, the wolf and the lion, were hunted to near extinction. The idea back then was, "The only good bear is a dead bear."

Our generation cannot afford to make the same mistake with the great predators of the sea. Don't let the massacre of sharks continue because it happens out of our sight or to animals some of us may be afraid of. We make decisions every day. Make a decision today to help sharks, help the ocean and help yourself.

If you have a question about sharks, rays or our work, please email us and we may post it on our website.