All around the globe, sharks as a whole species have been absolutely devastated by our unsustainable fishing methods and other environmental destruction. Recently, we have been able to more efficiently track the feeding paths and areas of sharks which will allow us to better protect these areas and establish boundaries. This will establish better regulations for where is exactly we are able to fish so that we do not contribute to overfishing and disrupting our planet’s natural ecosystems.
One of the ways we are able to see shark’s exact feeding methods are by studying plankton, tiny plants that make up the bottom of the ocean’s food web. Plankton from different places over the world contains different carbon isotopes. We have begun to watch as these isotopes bioaccumulate higher up in the marine food web. We are able to track exactly where sharks feed and the paths they follow by looking at exactly which carbon isotopes have accumulated within the shark.
This will allow us to follow these majestic creatures throughout the entire ocean, and it also gives us a leg-up on being able to protect them. Not only sharks have felt the damage from overfishing and our plastic pollution, but every single creature in the ocean. We will be able to use this to better protect all of our ocean’s animals and help our planet as a whole become more sustainable