Shark Week!

There's something about sharks that both terrifies and fascinates us at the same time. That's why I love Shark Week. One whole week devoted to watching creatures we may hardly see in the wild, but they form such an integral part of the marine ecosystem that we can never imagine life without them. According to IUCN, almost a third of pelagic sharks are threatened with extinction, primarily the result of overfishing. Fortunately, increased conservation efforts have been made in the past few decades in addition to greater public awareness about the vital roles that sharks serve. I would hope that with generations to come, these ocean predators will no longer be feared by us and given the respect they deserve.

http://www.iucn.org/?3362/Third-of-open-ocean-sharks-threatened-with-extinction

http://www.pewenvironment.org/campaigns/global-shark-conservation/id/8589941059

Taken at the Newport Aquarium