Skip to main content

Meaningful Fact of the Day #1


Today's random fact is more about awareness than randomness. Ever since the movie 'Jaws' aired, and the more recent 'Shallows' movie, there has been a misconception that sharks kill hundreds of people per year. That is simply not the case. In recent years the South Eastern Coast of the United States has seen a rise in shark attacks, although not many were fatal, it is still enough to bring about the fear that sharks are just waiting in the shallows for their potential prey. 


Sharks have a PR problem that might be hurting their chances of survival. A study from two years ago found that a majority of the media coverage sharks get involves attacks on humans, and doesn't reflect how rare these encounters actually are. In 2012, there were 80 confirmed shark attacks worldwide, but only seven of them were fatal, according to the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File.


Sharks have very slow reproductive cycles, having babies once every two years makes it very difficult for large populations to recover from being killed off by the thousands, even millions. Even baby sharks are being killed just for their fins before even having a chance to mate. 

Rooftops in Hong Kong covered with drying Shark Fins
Shark-finning is the inhumane, and torturous practice of illegally catching sharks, cutting their fins off while still alive, throwing them back in the water to die, or using them as bait for more sharks. In parts of Asia, Shark-Fin Soup has been associated with affluence, and has been a prized dish in asian culture for generations. Awareness of this practice has been made, and many efforts to take this high priced dish out of restaurants is going strong today. 

Out of the 10 annual deaths from sharks attacks worldwide, humans kill 100-200 million sharks every year. Some of which are endangered species, and will be extinct if we don't stop this cruel practice. 




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Top 5 Nude Beaches in the United States

Public nudity is something frowned upon in the United States - many of us are thankful for that -, although in Europe most beaches are nude friendly. If you want to feel a little more free, and looking for a new experience, then check out these top five nude beaches in the United States.  5. San Gregorio, San Mateo County, California  The small town of San Gregorio, home to only 287 people is just south of San Francisco. This is the oldest nude beach in the United States. San Gregorio is popular with the Bay area gay community, who are typically found on the northern part of the beach, and straight visitors tend to stay on the southern side. With two-miles of beach to explore there is a spot for everyone. No matter what side you are on, everyone stays to watch the sunset.   4. Black's Beach, San Diego California Tucked away between La Jolla and Torrey Pines State Beach, Black's Beach is incredibly secluded. Surrounded by high cliff walls, an...

My Essential Outdoor Items

When it comes to hiking, and camping I want to be as comfortable as possible, without carrying too much weight and unnecessary items. I learned the hard way on my first overnight hiking trip to Jones Gap state park how difficult it can be to hike 3+ miles with the wrong gear, and too much stuff! That is why I have decided to show you the items I currently use that maximize make my primitive camping adventures! Start with a good shelter I had no idea what I was doing when I set up my first tent, granted I wasn't alone and had my boyfriend to help; I am now the primary one to set up and take down our tent between sites. I bought my three person tent at Wal-Mart for under 30 dollars, and it is super easy to set up and is very spacious, comfortable, and light weight! This tent is simple, but also has comfort features as well; good ventilation with the removal rain cover, inside pockets to put devices or other items important to you. You don't have to fumble through you...

Top 5 Mistakes to AVOID this Summer

      We all make mistakes, but when you are hiking, or going camping, mistakes can be deadly. Anything from wearing the wrong shoes, to not having enough clean water to drink can be inconvenient at home, but in the woods it can turn into a matter of life and death. Here is my life of top 5 mistakes to AVOID this summer. 5. Over/Under Packing When getting ready to go on a hike it can be so easy to cram a weeks worth of stuff into your pack, even if you are only going for a day or two. Extra clothes, that really cute sun hat you never get to wear, towels, extra shoes etc can all add weight to your pack that you don't need or want on a long hike. While you may think it is worth the extra weight in your pack, your back and neck will be hating you for it later. Packing light and only bringing the necessities can be scary at first, but once you realize you don't NEED all of that stuff,  you will find yourself less tired and sore than you would with a heavier bag. ...