Cultural Effects on an Ecosystem

One obvious cultural affect that humans are having on the ecosystem is the overfishing of sharks for Shark Fin Soup. But how does this relate to us? Many people don't worry about how their actions on the ecosystem will affect them, but they should.

If sharks continue to be overfished, they will eventually go extinct. If the sharks go extinct it will throw the whole ecosystem out of control! Without sharks, there will be no top level predator, and every species that it used to prey on will no longer be being eaten by it. Because of this, that species will drive the trophic level beneath it into extinction and soon the whole ecosystem will crumble.

For example, if a species of sharks begins to dwindle in a specific area, the stingray population that the sharks were controlling will rise. The stingrays will then devastate the scallop and clam populations, leading to less scallops and clams for you to eat. See how by doing nothing you are still affecting yourselves?

Because in reality, you aren't doing nothing. By not helping to prevent shark finning, you are enabling others to kill sharks and continue to put their species at danger. Do not turn a blind eye, help pass the ban and end shark finning.