How many people do you think were killed
by sharks last year? You might be surprised to realize that only 6 people were
killed in 2015, yet sharks are portrayed as vicious, man-eating creatures of
the sea.
Kyra Kalageorgi is an artist who's using her
creativity and artwork to promote a positive message of sharks by working with
the organization Love The Oceans.
Every year, over 100 million sharks are
killed by commercial fisheries. They kill them for their fins, meat,
liver oil, cartilage, and other parts of the shark, which is driving some of
the shark populations towards extinction.
Sharks grow slowly and reproduce only a
few times over their lifetimes. This makes them very vulnerable and
slow to recover from depletion. Their depletion poses a serious risk for
the entire ocean ecosystem. The sharks control their prey's population, and
entire habitats can be lost without them.
Love The Oceans goal is to protect
endangered species, establish a protected area in Mozambique, and work towards
sustainable fishing. They hope that through research, teaching locals, and
diving they can help us move towards a more sustainable future for
sharks and the entire ecosystem.
Below is a video featuring an interview
with Kyra Kalageorgi and showcasing her artwork highlighting sharks along with
her current projects.