We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Behavior

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Makes Dogs and Cats a Threat to Sharks?

Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 1,418
References
Share

Your cat or dog couldn't beat a shark in a fight, but they're still a threat to the sharp-toothed marine predators.

According to recent research, several brands of pet food contain shark, but label the ingredients simply as "ocean fish," or something similar. Consumers don't know it, and many undoubtedly wouldn't like it, especially considering that the global abundance of sharks has declined by 70% in the past 50 years.

“The majority of pet owners are likely lovers of nature, and we think most would be alarmed to discover that they could be unknowingly contributing to the overfishing of shark populations,” said researchers Ben Wainwright and Ian French of Singapore's Yale-NUS College, who oversaw the study that arrived at these unsettling results.

In an evaluation of 45 pet food products from 16 different brands, 144 samples were sequenced. The researchers found that approximately one-third of the samples contained shark DNA, including some species listed as "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, such as the silky shark and the whitetip reef shark. One ecologist explained that a lack of strict labeling makes it easy for pet food manufacturers to include pretty much any type of ocean fish in their products, without regard for international regulations.

Shark school:

  • Sharks are made of cartilaginous tissues, which means they don't have bones.

  • Scientists estimate that sharks have existed for about 455 million years.

  • The world's biggest fish is the whale shark, which can weigh 40 tons and reach 40 feet (12.2 m) in length.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.com/what-makes-dogs-and-cats-a-threat-to-sharks.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.