Many people think of sharks as dangerous monsters. But human beings pose a far greater danger to these creatures than they do to us. Although shark attacks do occur, they are quite rare. On the other hand, according to one estimate, humans kill 100 million sharks every year. This statistics is a warning that many kinds of sharks may become extinct.

The killing of sharks is a problem for the whole planet. Sharks are apex predators, which means that they eat other species, but few creatures eat them. As sharks die off, the populations of animals that sharks consume will increase. This, in turn, means that the populations of the creatures that those animals eat will shrink. That includes some sea creatures that humans consume, such as shrimp. It also includes fish that eat algae, which can cause algae to spread so much that it damages coral reefs.

Reducing shark populations affect more than just the ocean. Ocean plants produce much of the oxygen on the planet. These plants can be harmed when changes in shark population upset the ecosystem.

Try to refuse shark products. Shark liver oil is used in many popular cosmetics. Pet foods, vitamins, energy drinks and leather goods can also be made from shark parts. And shark meat is sold around the world, sometimes under misleading names such as rock salmon or whitefish. Most sharks killed worldwide are hunted for their fins, which are used to make shark fin soup. The process is cruel: Fisherman cut the shark's fin off and then dump the shark back into the water, still alive. Then the shark dies slowly, sometimes over several days. Sharks breathe by swimming, so a shark that can't swim will die.

Sharks often die because they become tangled in nets meant for other kinds of fish. If you eat seafood, make sure it comes from fisheries that care for the oceans.

Many organizations try to protect sharks. They can teach you about these essential creatures and give more advice on how to keep them alive. These organizations also need your support to continue protecting these important creatures.

Jake Meyers, a graduate student in Northwestern University, has won the Best Sharable   Video award in Planet Forward's national Storyfest 2020 competition. The project teaches, celebrates and rewards environmental storytelling by students from across the county.

As a master’s student, Meyers works at the intersection of climate adaptation and food security. During the summer of 2019, Meyers worked with the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, to investigate climate adaptation solutions to food insecurity in the rapidly urbanizing nation.

Meyers´ video, "Can urban farming feed the future?", shares the story of Francis Wachira, a leading advocate for urban facing in Nairobi.

Millions of people are moving from rural to urban areas as large-scale farming, coupled with climate change, forces small-scale farmers to abandon their livelihoods and pursue economic opportunity in urban areas, "Meyers said.

As food security concerns grow for the people of Nairobi, farmers like Francis are transforming urban lots into highly productive green spaces to raise livestock ( 牲 畜 ), grow vegetables and fight climate change.

" Francis has an incredible urban farming system in Nairobi that features over 600 head of livestock and 150 species of plants, "Meyers said. " I wanted to highlight Francis and his innovative approach to urban farming through storytelling with the goal of inspiring change."

"I have become so inspired by many incredible people like Francis Wachira. So many around the world are re-imagining solutions to poverty and climate change, yet their stories remain untold. I hope to continue using storytelling as a means of highlighting different perspectives that can create impact and advocate for transformational change, "Meyers said.