What are your thoughts about sharks in marine parks?

Question

My debat question is. What do People think of sharks in Aqua parks. I doubt that Any of you... Including me. Whant Them captured in a Aquarium. But we whant Them in the ocean where they belong. But.... The importance of Kids looking at them close up. Finding Them cool. Facinating... And so on. And there by create a passion and or love for Them. What do you think???

Answer 1

Like you are stating in your question, this is not a simple yes or no question. Of course it would be best to have all sharks live a full life in the wild. However, if we want to educate people on sharks and their importance, having them placed in aquariums can do so. Personally I think about the students that I teach. I teach in a low income school where the majority of them have never even left the state of Michigan let alone been to the ocean. So how are they supposed to fully understand the importance of sharks if they can never afford to get to the ocean? I can teach/tell them all I want but if you don't involve them, you won't get very far.

With that being said, we should be careful about which sharks we place in aquariums. Many shark species have sustainable numbers and can tolerate being put in captivity better than others. I recently traveled to the Boston Aquarium and they had a whole statement by their smaller shark exhibit on why they do not have larger sharks but also on their importance to the ocean. I thought that was a great move by them.

Answer 2

For educational purposes, yes, i think it is important to have aquariums with sharks in them, but of course with in reason. Some sharks do very well in captivity, others, like the Great White, do not. I always enjoyed going to aquariums when i was a kid, it is what inspired me to want to learn more about sharks and our ocean and to become a SCUBA diver. Sharks are so awesome, and have such an awe factor, that an aquarium without a shark usually doesn't do as well for attracting visitors to learn about the ocean wildlife. (I personally would rather go somewhere I can see a shark over seeing a dolphin). I also think that if the shark(s) in an aquarium were found injured, and after rehabilitated could not return to the wild, then that is also an acceptable case for keeping a shark in an aquarium (or any other marine life). I am not fond of "bred in captivity" or "hunted for in the wild"...

For example, sea turtles involved in boating accidents that lost some of their fins, or became partially paralyzed in and would not survive in the wild. but at the aquarium they thrive! So in those cases, it not only helps the animal, but it also continues the out reach to the public, bringing awareness to our great oceans, and to why following wake zone rules are important etc.

Most aquariums do a good job of keeping their marine life happy and healthy, and many of them may live beyond their expected life span because of this. Again, within in reason, i think Aquariums are good for public out reach, and education of our oceans and its creatures, and when possible, the animals should be rescue animals that needed human help or they would not have survived.

Answer 3

I am against captivity of any wild creature but can appreciate 'some' of the comments that other responders to your question have posted.

When you said aqua parks I was thinking you meant protected marine areas, in the ocean but I guess you are talking about aquariums.

I am against shark captivity but if it must happen it should be limited to certain species. I think I saw a photo of a whale shark in captivity. That is shameful and the wrong species. Great Whites have quickly died in captivity. Ridiculous to ever think they would live in captivity.

THE WAY to do this is using new technology! No shark captivity. No cetacean activity either...or other mammals. With new amazing video technologies people can experience MORE, not less. Actual filmed video footage from the wild OR real time cameras.