Jaxson's 9th Birthday Shark Fundraiser

Hi! My name is Jaxson and I am a big fan of sharks - those mysterious creatures of the deep blue that have been around since the age of the dinosaurs. Sharks and their habitats are in grave danger. Firstly, they are being killed at alarming rates due to overfishing but they are also caught for their fins, meat, or as bycatch in fishing nets. Many species are also killed for sport or mistakenly hunted because they’re seen as dangerous, even though they play a vital role in ocean ecosystems.

Habitat destruction is another problem. Coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds, all of which are essential areas for sharks to feed and breed—are being damaged by pollution, climate change, and coastal development. As the number of sharks is rapidly declining, the balance of marine ecosystems puts sharks and the health of the entire ocean at risk. Humans rely on the ocean for food, oxygen, and climate regulation. Protecting sharks and their habitats is crucial for maintaining a healthy, thriving ocean.

This is why I have selected Shark Stewards for this fundraiser. Shark Stewards works to stop overfishing of sharks at the state, national and international level. They also are working to eliminate the global shark fin trade, through education and policy change from the USA to Asia, especially in the major import and consumption hubs of Malaysia, Singapore and China. Their work supports the establishment, implementation and monitoring of marine protected areas in the USA and in SE Asia while maintaining compliance and support through education.

Check them out here: https://sharkstewards.org/