We read in the John Pirie journal this week about the sighting of flying fish and a shark. The crew were keen to catch the shark, but were unsuccessful, as the captain throws the bait overboard without a line attached. The men made fun of this event, causing a ‘hearty laugh’ amongst them. The shark’s life was spared this time. 
The world’s oceans cover 71% of the earth’s surface and are an ecosystem made up of plant and animal life, ranging from the whales, sharks and other large predators at the top of the food chain to the smallest forms of life in coral and plankton. The balance of life within this ecosystem is dependent on a number of factors, including water temperature, climate change and human actions. Since 1836, the world’s population has increased significantly and the fragile ocean ecosystem has been affected by the advances in technology and actions of people across the globe.