Sharks Keep The Bahamas’ Oceans and Economy Healthy

Although sharks are in trouble all around the globe, the shark population in The Bahamas is thriving.

The Bahamas are making a strong effort to protect their sharks because they recognize how crucial sharks are in maintaining balance in the marine ecosystem.

As top predators in the food chain, sharks regulate the amount as well as variety of species below them in the food chain. This regulation helps to keep the ecosystem in balance.  The decline in shark populations can lead to thing such as an unhealthy marine ecosystem and the collapse of important commercial fisheries.

 Coastal Angler Magazine explained that in North Carolina, an important commercial fishery was terminated because there weren’t enough sharks in the area to the keep the ecosystem in balance.  Because the shark population in the area had declined so much, the cownose ray population exploded which led to them diminishing the bay scallop population.

Sharks also aid in keeping the coral reef ecosystems healthy and beautiful. Corals depend on the small herbivorous fish to eat the aglea so that coral can settle and grow. Without sharks, the large fish, which feed on the small herbivorous fish, take over and eat the little ones which the coral depends on. The loss in small fish, because of the loss of sharks, results in an algae-dominated reef where coral cannot thrive and a change in the entire ecosystem.

Having sharks present keeps The Bahamas’ oceans looking beautiful, maintains healthy habitats, as well as successful fisheries which all draw in the tourism that maintains The Bahamas’ economy.

The Bahamas Diving Association stated that shark-related tourism contributed $800 million in its national economy over the last 20 years, said the Pew Environmental Group.