Why Sharks Are Important

Sharks are incredibly important animals for many reasons. They maintain ecosystems, help to keep the carbon cycle running, and may even aid in curing human diseases.
#SharkWeek 2020 has begun!
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Sources:
eu.oceana.org/en/importance-s....
oceana.org/sites/default/file...
www.mysticaquarium.org/2017/0...
www.frontiersin.org/articles/...
journals.plos.org/plosone/art...
phys.org/news/2010-09-whaling...
www.conservation.org/blog/5-t...
www.cambridge.org/core/journa...
journals.plos.org/plosone/art...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20581...
www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pr...
www.nationalgeographic.com/ne...
www.livescience.com/47870-sha....

[@carlobragagnolo8640]

The fact that every apex predator has to be hunted to near extinction for us to learn the importance of their role in every ecosystem is just sad

[@KyoushaPumpItUp]

Thanos was right

[@maximemoulin8761]

@@KyoushaPumpItUp Sharks' population decline has nothing to do with demography, and everything to do with culture and regulations. Thanos' ideology is genocidal and nothing more.

[@Dhalp661]

@@KyoushaPumpItUp thanos wanted to kill half of all life. Life includes plants and animals, therefore there would be half as many trees and sharks

[@Kyle-gw6qp]

@@Dhalp661 kill 3 quarters of people and you solve almost every ecological problem.

[@geradosolusyon511]

@@Kyle-gw6qp no that won't do it. If you gotta resort to killing then it needs to be strictly selective and massive. Like, certain destructive tendencies and behaviors and personalities. Edit: (I'm looking at you Steve)

[@deepfriedfish]

In conclusion: Sharks are good

[@brianlevine871]

Sharks are friends, not foes

[@venumbra1177]

Not just good, but the best of best sea beans

[@mmk794]

@николас муллер not all animals are good... i mean some herbivores could overfeed on plants if not for predators,especiallyof the predator population is too little,but things like cows contribute to global warming. There are plenty of good animals,but duets human impact some animals greatly effect the ecosystem

[@rocksandspaghetti4661]

Cows kills more humans than sharks

[@cre4ture101]

"Fish [sharks as well] are friends not food" -Bruce from Fining Nemo

[@happychair4880]

When you realise a shark makes more money than youll ever have for just existing

[@Joehtosis]

Oh don't sell yourself short, plenty of people will exploit you for your inherent value without paying you a dime over your life time.

[@peliac7319]

@@Joehtosis ok boomer

[@Joehtosis]

@@peliac7319 ok Karen

[@luckyblockyoshi]

@@Joehtosis Karens are boomers but ok

[@luckyblockyoshi]

@Peek- At -Ch'you that is completely irrelevant but ok

[@Rotsuoy]

TL;DW: Sharks are as important to their ecosystem as wolves, and both animals need to stop being demonized and should be protected.

[@Joehtosis]

Who's demonizing sharks in the last twenty years?

[@kennethsatria6607]

@@Joehtosis Didn't Meg come out very recently?

[@DanielFerreira-ez8qd]

Who's demonizing wolves?

[@GeorgeTheDinoGuy]

How can you be anymore right

[@DanielFerreira-ez8qd]

@Imagine Dinosaurs who'd be anti wolf?

[@RyanPHill77]

I prefer Ben’s version better than the ridiculous mess that the Discovery Channel has become.

[@matthew_thefallen]

Lol I just wrote that too!😂

[@jimstaboodleooferson8983]

Yes agreed.No one likes those fake megalodon documentaries

[@keithfaulkner6319]

Like everyone else it degenerated to reality tv.

[@marvalice3455]

Cable has cancer

[@keithfaulkner6319]

And the only cure is stop watching. I gave up tv 7 years ago. You can buy used dvd's from when tv was good cheap.

[@cosmopoiesecriandomundos7446]

"Shark Week 2020 has o-fish-ally started"

[@InfinityOrNone]

Sharks have been here longer than trees. If we're willing to talk about the importance of preserving ancient forests, then we should be even more concerned for sharks. Edit: for anyone wanting more information, the earliest known shark, Elegestolepis, is dated to the Ludlow epoch of the Silurian Period, about 427-423 million years (Ma) ago. The oldest known tree is Wattieza, of the Middle Devonian, and cannot be any older than 393.3 Ma (and is often given an age of about 386-385 Ma), giving a minimum difference of more than 29 million years.

[@paulkuchnicki6404]

I can’t think of even wiser words than this. Preach!

[@thestupid7281]

Hmmm, interesting

[@eaglelord145]

In just 2 years, I'll be on my way to studying Marine Biology, and while cetaceans are my main interest, sharks are such fascinating, diverse, and awe-inspiring creatures that I can't help but love them. I am so saddened by the harsh treatment that sharks get from popular media, and more people need to learn about the real magnificence of these animals.

[@iskender1324]

I wish you luck.

[@RuskiWaffle]

Good luck! I also love whales too, along with dolphins, sharks, rays and seals.

[@Boom12]

The Shark. They bring out fear, wonder, and are pivotal to our ecosystem.

[@Shift8YawnsShift8]

Yes

[@hobosorcerer]

Let's stop associating them with fear, yeah?

[@Shift8YawnsShift8]

@@hobosorcerer Yes

[@Boom12]

@@hobosorcerer those who watch sharks in cages seem to like that fear :/

[@user-tzzglsstle585e38]

Honestly, I'm more scared of chihuahuas than sharks...

[@riverbandit2138]

I find it interesting how many people say how sharks are scary and brutal monsters, yet there doing much more good for everyone in the sea, and for some of us.

[@naturebrothers1844]

I think that sharks and ever sea creatures in the ocean are heroes

[@DanielFerreira-ez8qd]

honestly, anything that: -lives in the ocean -is a carnivore is hella scary, let's be fair

[@the_chosen_one5642]

@@DanielFerreira-ez8qd so you think anchovies are scary?

[@DanielFerreira-ez8qd]

@@the_chosen_one5642 of course, that's why i don't have them on my pizza.

[@DanielFerreira-ez8qd]

@xXx_LukizZza_xXx the things can be fierce sometimes, their cuteness is but a method of deception.

[@trurlCXC]

0:29 it looks like he was caught stealing cookies from the jar, and is right now scolded by his mum

[@TechnoNoodle]

"sharkweek 2020 has ofFISHially started"

[@tobiasschiffl1222]

Shame on you....

[@GeorgeTheDinoGuy]

Sharks are just so cool, I really hope if there is a mass extinction some lineage would come to dominate once more!

[@zennyfieldster4220]

I really thank you for regaining the brain cells I lost yesterday. I was golfing with a guy who was teeing up golf balls and shooting them low to hit some geese on the field on purpose. And now my brother is going to be his step brother in a couple days. Fml! People like these are the reason the planets ecosystems are being destroyed.

[@zennyfieldster4220]

TheDiamondOre it was a party in celebration or I guess what’s called a stag for my brother getting married. An all day party it was but thankfully I had a break between the day party and the evening party. The party was amazing thankfully. The golf game was made up of 2 groups in total of 7 with me, my brother, a friend and that guy in one group, and other people in a group of 3. So when we went golfing, it was the first hole we were at and I seen the geese a ways away but I don’t think he seen them as I heard nothing of it. It was when we were at the last few holes of the 18 was when we all seen them again and that’s when at first he ran at them like a child would with seagulls with him throwing a club one time. The last 2 holes was when he teed up and was shooting low at them. A duck hunter I believe so definitely no mercy if a goose was hit but none were hit. The sucker tried so hard too and was demanding balls. We all were joking around that we would have had to smuggle a dead goose out in a cooler thankfully that didn’t happen. Me, my brother and his friend were all messing around and having fun and so was this guy but he was like a dangerous type though. I hope I see him every few years or so but I feel like he will have nothing to do with me and my family so I’m not worried so much. Don’t worry. I’m not in danger or anything. But yeah. Watch out for those people like fish to sharks. Happy shark week!

[@heartbust4624]

Hahahahaha

[@xuanluu4873]

TheDiamondOre pretty sure gooses are the devil incarnate

[@cadunkus]

To be fair geese are the worst.

[@dopeyfx1783]

I had not thought about sharks in that way...to think that they contribute so much to the earth's many aquatic ecosystems. I look forward to the rest of shark week

[@SarahLikesSkittles]

sharks are just cool, am i right fellow sharks?

[@kiarash608]

Sharks are important cause they're cool You should not need any other reason

[@luckyblockyoshi]

unfortunately many people don't think they're cool

[@papapreston2356]

@@luckyblockyoshi those people are known as idiots

[@ndog0639]

@@papapreston2356 *ignorant

[@phir9255]

@@luckyblockyoshi certainly not many, I've never heard of them

[@a.randomjack6661]

Sharks are the doctors of the seas.

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

Excellent video. Looking forward to Shark Week. I hope to get a video out myself if possible as well. :)

[@Happy-Pansexual-Imp]

I love sharks they’re so precious

[@warwasnotinvited]

it's crazy to think that we are more closely related to dory and nemo than bruce is to dory and nemo

[@thedoruk6324]

Its quite depressing that many dozens of unique species of these ancient and magnificent predators are hunted to extinction because of some stupid oriental 'belief' about their fins has a placeBo effect thought

[@Shoebill1447]

.

[@penmog8819]

Yes is actually really sad :(

[@cosmopoiesecriandomundos7446]

@@macmcskullface1004 I've eaten shark meat once and I wouldn't say it's tasteless. I didn't find it particularly good but many people I know who tried it said it is nice. This obviously doesn't justify hunting them like this.

[@SmashhoofTheOriginal]

The way you say "oriental" sounds racist

[@cosmopoiesecriandomundos7446]

@@SmashhoofTheOriginal if the belief arose in the East, "oriental" isn't racist.

[@WhoTheHellIsHarvy]

For anyone who watches this video, share it with at least 1 person, at the absolute minimum. Of all the silly and insignificant issues people get caught up in these days, how things like this don't get more attention and are so often ignored absolutely baffles me. There was so much crucial information in less than 10 minutes and at no point could it be considered overwhelming nor missing out major details. And that is not an easy thing to do. I really can't understand why this isn't something that isn't in the news often. Instead, the media and journalism is dominated by things that directly impact our economies or the all to delicate feelings humans have and the problems we cause each other.

[@dylanhansen6580]

I actually once did an essay on this in school. Great to see more people talking about how important they are!

[@nickz1487]

Lucky I never get anything dhark related

[@Damian-sb2ii]

Now this is what I call Shark Week

[@IceSpoon]

"Perfect" is a word rarely used in biodiversity. However, I honestly believe that sharks are a taxa that is super close to achieve perfection. 400,000,000 years is nothing to sneeze at. I hope they remain here for another 400,000,000 more.

[@belstar1128]

I hope both humans and sharks will be around 400,000,000 years in the future.

[@ANTSEMUT1]

@Stock Name Savannahs human's arose from Savannahs not deserts.

[@sharpness5potato74]

This video reminded me of how beautiful nature is

[@keithfaulkner6319]

Speaking of ecology, i read somewhere that when caimen in s america declined, the snails they fed on bloomed, and the human parasite the snails carry (schistosomiasis i think maybe not) also bloomed, causing the people there all kinds of trouble. Top predators are necessary.

[@charlottemacdonald7116]

Shark week "who ha ha" 💙

[@dynamosaurusimperious6341]

Amazing video, plus it's amazing that we even have something that we can appreciate that are beautiful and helpful predators of the ocean, along with many others predators of ocran,like Ocras, Dolphins,and other large predatory sea animal.

[@thedoruk6324]

5:05 - That should be presented to every skeptic doubts about how 'eco preservation' supports the economy

[@jesusjoseph1899]

The last time I was this early,only Plecoderms existed.

[@TJ_Watson]

Sharks are awesome

[@Mydarkarts23]

Yes they are.

[@alexallen9640]

Happy Shark Week 🙂👍🦈

[@penmog8819]

Yaaaaaaaaay sharks are sooooo cuuuteeee

[@The_PokeSaurus]

I'm gonna spread this video around as much as I can!

[@lunabellsprout]

I’m so happy you do your own Shark Week here on BGT, thank you for all the hard work you do!! ♥️

[@Stellarfront]

Most animals are important to there ecosystem

[@nickz1487]

Yes but sharks have a huge importance

[@robert2108]

Thank you! Finally someone looking out for sharks ❤️

[@chaddixon5725]

Good vid man. Love your work.

[@jmcop30]

Was listening to this in thr background, had to double back when I heard the material being called "Shark Lit AF"

[@jannish.2807]

Really awesome video! I am studying conservation right now and it is just so frustrating to see how little many people know/care about the environment. Your videos are really making a difference by showing people why they should care, even about animals that many still see as "scary" or even "evil". Thank you so much for your efforts in making this great video!

[@sashasychov7589]

4:05 more like: *Shark Lit AF*

[@dougthedonkey1805]

The coral reef bit about sharks keeping the groupers in line so they don’t overeat the little fish reminded me of how the dog from Tom and Jerry always beats up Tom and often saves Jerry

[@thegreatgualazama3504]

Great video! Keep up the good work!

[@purplehaze2358]

Sharks have such boopable snootables.

[@sab1751]

Wow, I actually learned alot of stuff I did not know before. Thanks guys

[@timkbirchico8542]

Good stuff, you're on the right side. Keep it up.

[@anthonyalvaladero]

“These animals are apex predators” Orcas: Am I a joke to you?

[@ndog0639]

Generally orcas are in colder waters and sharks tend to be in warmer areas, so most of the time the shark is the top predator

[@ericweis9771]

Great video. Thank you for making this episode.

[@scarletstrix]

I absolutely love sharks! They're so pretty!

[@banishedbutcher-haloinfini3329]

Great video! Cant wait to see more :D

[@darleschickens7106]

2:52 Greenland shark ❤ my favourite kind, beautiful animals

[@mr.painfultruth2771]

Great video !

[@Indubitible_E]

Thank you for this I learned a lot about sharks can’t wait for the rest of shark week

[@lisaenglert3202]

Great argument presentation esp with citing money numbers. Hope it gets seen all over!

[@Mydarkarts23]

Sharks have a important part in the circle of life. Great video Ben I love it.

[@warhammer2162]

Great video

[@dustind4694]

Patient and forthright zoological and paleontological programming in a society of spectacle is a rare gem. Thanks from my family to yours.

[@k1cubeyt671]

U guys are amazing 😍

[@jamescornwell7655]

awesome video

[@jakehanks4116]

Shark Lit AF 4:07

[@brendandulaca3147]

Sharks are one of the most fascinating animals to live on this planet. The fact that so many of them are hunted down simply because people don't understand them deeply saddens me. This species should be protected at all costs.

[@danhoppy5517]

Sharks used to terrify me. I think that is a natural human reaction. Watching things like this, tells me how crucial these predators are. Never walk into a shark's house...

[@PureEpicnessXDC0RE]

I wish this would blow up and would make its rounds in people very distant from this community because those are the people who most likely need this the most.

[@samsalamander8147]

I’m from the Cape people are freaking out about sharks right now. There is a huge group of them living off of Cape Cod they follow the seals. A woman in Maine was just killed. She was shredded. It was the first death ever from a shark attack in Maine.

[@nikkireborn5923]

Shark Week!!

[@Shoebill1447]

Worm week

[@josethebeast8709]

To shorten things sharks are awesome enough said

[@uutdiegodzilla3821]

Well said! I wish people would finally understand how beatiful, perfect and, last but not least, important sharks are!

[@wasp6425]

Do a video on the ironclad beetle

[@kynta12]

Yay, shark week 😁😁😁❤️

[@elishaberry611]

Even these big toothed fishies deserve love.

[@spinejackel]

5:20 oh that’s just a big sea puppy right there

[@yenguyandfriends]

Happy Shark week 🦈🦈

[@qiwi2964]

It makes me so sad that I grew up hearing horror stories about sharks and only started loving them a couple years ago. Now sharks are some of my favorite animals in the world and I would love to work with them to help fight their extinction. They are truly beatiful creatures.

[@steveennever9905]

Sharks rule.

[@andyfriederichsen]

0:30 What a cute tiger shark.

[@tom5720]

Your doing such a good a job guys. I have an idea that between you all you would be my replacement for attenborough

[@nyax129]

The scubadiver in me is standing up and is hard hand clapping. Spot on. You know your a shark guy when you can yall out each of the shark names as you flash them on screen. Is there anyway you could add a little text with the species name for those who are not 100% scuba geeks?

[@ruanbarnard1249]

Shark week!

[@zJoriz]

Vice made a short 2-part documentary of the Shark hunters of Japan. Basically the fishermen's reasoning was: they are eating a portion of the fish we want to catch, so we have no choice but to cull them every year. Which is, like mentioned in this video, egocentric as only humans can be. To add insult to injury, the dead sharks are not even eaten. They are incinerated. There goes that carbon dioxide plan... I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who wants to preserve these magnificent ancients of the seas.

[@venumbra1177]

I absolutely love sharks, they're such graceful and beautiful beans who must be protected at all costs

[@henriquemorais4797]

This vídeo (and i think the other vídeos during the week) are good to spread how good sharks are for us, specially this days, that a large Numbers of boats are going near the galapagos to fish, the area is home to several species of sharks and other Marine animals.

[@thegrebnedu869]

Ben G Thomas when starting Shark Week : *explains the importance of Sharks, other animals, and the environment of the reef* Most other people when starting Shark Week : HuNGrY SHaRk WoRLd

[@u5amaa]

aww yiss it's SHARK WEEK!!

[@pierrebegley2746]

It is definitely reassuring that Shark tourism is slowly but surely rising above Shark fisheries. This whole Coronavirus likely had a negative impact on that tourism, but on the plus side, it likely damaged the fisheries further as people became skeptical of consuming fish. Am I being too optimistic? Maybe. But I'll stay optimistic for their future, especially since so much of our youth loves Sharks! 🦈

[@amandastakeonit7402]

Ben!! It would have been so awesome if you had laebeled each shark that way we could know the name of each one you showed. Stranely, the goblin shark, I know..but you did have some I didn't recognize.

[@gabrielsmedleysanimaltime5826]

This is way better than discovery's shark week. I swear Mike Tyson vs a shark is the stupidest idea for a documentary I've ever heard.

[@Gardow]

I don't think I've ever hit like this fast before.

[@Snowy167]

Beautiful babies 🦈💖

[@Meow_Zedong]

shark-lit AF

[@blahdeblahsion]

Happy shark week everyone

[@carmelosaurus7480]

YES! YES! YES! YES!!!

[@Twafflejc]

1:14 this is the face of someone who lets the turtles live and destroy all the sea grass

[@oscarlopez7991]

I have always felt sharks are one of the most important animals in the oceans of the world!

[@marcosoto5522]

02:31 that shark looks pissed.

[@deckarobinson511]

Love everything SHARK

[@kevingarnett1255]

Shark-lit-af Man thats lit af

[@JAGzilla-ur3lh]

I only regret that I have but one like to give for this video. Save the sharks!

[@EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal]

So mark rover uploaded a shark video 20 minutes after this So now the top of my subscription panel is just sharks