New Zealand Shark Alliance facts for kids

The New Zealand Shark Alliance is a special group of organizations that work together to protect sharks in New Zealand. They want to stop a harmful practice called shark finning in New Zealand waters. This alliance includes many well-known groups like the World Wide Fund for Nature, Greenpeace, and Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium.

What is the New Zealand Shark Alliance?

The New Zealand Shark Alliance is like a team of different groups. These groups are called non-governmental organizations, or NGOs for short. This means they are not part of the government. They all share one big goal: to protect sharks.

Their main aim is to stop shark finning. This is a cruel practice where sharks are caught, their fins are cut off, and then their bodies are thrown back into the ocean. The sharks often die slowly after this. The Alliance wants to make sure this doesn't happen in New Zealand.

When Did the Alliance Start?

The New Zealand Shark Alliance was created in 2012. Since then, they have been working hard to change laws in New Zealand. They want New Zealand's shark protection laws to be as strong as those in other countries around the world.

How Does the Alliance Want to Protect Sharks?

The Alliance believes that if sharks are caught by fishing boats, it should be done in a way that is good for the ocean. This is called sustainable fishing. It means catching enough fish for people to eat, but also making sure there are still plenty of sharks left for the future.

They also believe that if a shark is caught, its fins should stay attached to its body. The whole shark should be brought to shore. This helps stop the wasteful practice of only taking the fins and throwing the rest of the shark away. It also makes it easier to count how many sharks are being caught. This helps scientists understand if shark populations are healthy.