« Shark Preyed, » we eat sharks and we don’t know. And we condemn them to the anger

If we want to say all the biggest damage it has done it probably Steven Spielberg Half a century ago. On June 25th he will turn 50 « The shark», A youth film that became a blockbuster and a whole series of reasons became part of the cult films, so much so that it is still often seen in planning. And who knows how much we will see him again in the coming weeks to celebrate this « fearful » anniversary. Since then, also thanks to the media that emphasize the attacks of sharks more than those of other animals, this prince of the seas, in all its forms, has become synonymous with danger. But the fact is another: every year they are Less than ten all over the world people who die due to an open -sea attack; While I am hundreds of millions the specimens of this predator who come killed by man. That he feeds on it and very often he does it without his knowledge. With the result that almost all subspecies are now in various levels threatened.

Andrea and Marco Spinelli They know it well. Marine biologist the first, director and documentary maker The second, were born and raised with the sea: first that of the native Sicily, where they learned to love Big Brother Blu and all his creatures. And then making their reason for life. Andrea works at the Oceanographic Institute of Valencia, Spain, and also follows a project for repopulation thanks to eggs with still alive embryos recovered by fishermen during train fishing: they are missed in a nursery, then when the specimens are large enough to face the sea are freed to you. Marco is the author of several documentaries. And together they made « Shark Preyed», A film that denounces indiscriminate fishing to this animal that often ends up in our dishes at the table. Also without our knowledge.

If in the fish shop or the supermarket look for A tag or label With the wording « shark » you will not find it. You won’t even find images or drawings That they call it, as often happens for tuna, swordfish, salmon, crabs and other specimens considered to be spent in terms of marketing. The shark instead does not. After all, If it makes horror in the cinema let alone on the plate. Many people, imagining it as a man eaten (thanks again Steven!), They would not buy it by fearing to eat, indirectly other human beings. But just change its name and passes the fear.

And therefore the shark eat it all right. They buy it as Palombo, green, spinarol. And many other commercial names that are more harmless, at least to hearing. But always shark it is, even if it is not the white and huge one of Spielberg’s film (« Hey will serve you a bigger boat » says the policeman to the fisherman who accompanies him when he parades next to them in the only scene in which you really see it).

The point is that there is nothing illegal, because those who arrive on the desks are specimens caughtat least based on the laws in force in many countries of the world. Also the practice of « Finning», Or the cutting of fins, particularly requested by oriental cuisine, which is prohibited in Europe is considered lawful in many other areas of the planet. And since the oceans and the seas have no borders, just withdraw dramatically in an ocean or off a single coast to help deplete as a whole what Jeremy Rifkin would define thehydrosphere.

Much more land on the ground, indeed sea at sea, just know that Sharks are in strong decline everywhere. And Andrea and Marco’s journey tells him well. In the fish markets of Spain, where some fishermen collaborate in providing information and some others gets threats that are anything but veiled (« Ask too many questions, you are touching big interests »), and in the depth of the sea, where the two brothers have immersed themselves over and over again, swimming in close contact with the predators who have never thought of considering them prey. « They are wonderful and fascinating animals – explains Marco Dalla di Santeria in Milan, on the sidelines of the preview of the film, available now also on the Amazon Prime platform – and even if the film may seem like an investigation into the shark meat, in reality it is above all a tribute to the beauty of this animal ».

A beauty to be preserved at all costs, recognizing the role of Key species for biodiversity. Whether the shark is there or there is not a secondary detail. «Let’s take the coral reefs – try to explain Andrea to the public -. If sharks fail, they will be able to proliferate more the carnivorous species of intermediate size. Which feed on the herbivorous ones, which will consequently be decimated. And this will have repercussions on algae prairies on the seabed that proliferation will suffocate the corals ». In short, if the shark disappears, the coral reef also disappears. And therefore farewell tourism in tropical paradises. But it is just an example among the many possible. Everyone The great predators at the top of the food chains – also applies to the wolf or the lion – they have the task of regulate the balance of their habitats. The shark does it in the oceans, even if at this step he will no longer be able to do it.

The images of « Shark Prayed » are punches in the stomachwhen they show the expanses of Verdesche Squarato in a Spanish warehouse, ready to be exported all over the world – for the record Italy is the third importer at a global level -, but also Wellness infusions When they show their dance suspended in the sea depths and the peaceful interaction they manage to create with other species.

The numbers lead us to a reality that leaves no doubts of interpretation: at least they are caught every year 100 million of sharks in a regular basis, but you go up to 270 million Considering the much wider basin of illegality and fishing without controls. But also limiting themselves to 100 million legal catches, statistically it is as if they came caught 200 sharks every minute. Legal global turnover is estimated in 2.6 billion dollars; Instead, it is difficult to give a size to the black market. The shark fins soups served in restaurants are paid More than 100 euros per portion. And this gives the sense of the turnover that the capture of the shark sets in motion.

« The shark is an ancient animal, survived five mass extinctions by not having other predators above itself – warns the voiceover that accompanies the narration of the film -. Today they risk disappearing that a predator have it. And it is us ».