This Classic Shark Queen originally painted in 1998, reminds us the importance to protect and to respect the ocean, not fear it. Sharks play a crucial role in healthy ocean ecosystems because they are a top predator. They keep prey species in our ocean's populations at a healthy level and prevent algae overgrowth that advances the decline of coral reefs. Ocean pollution, overfishing and fin poaching are resulting in some species of sharks facing extinction in many parts of the world. Some species of sharks are particularly vulnerable to overfishing because they don’t populate quickly. Understanding sharks is crucial, and their importance to the health of our oceans is a major driving force for conservation policies. Often persecuted for their false identity of being “man-eating monsters”, they need us now more than ever to protect them and educate each other about their true nature, and that’s why we need to protect our ocean’s shark species.
