Christopher Morlan’s love of sharks began with a book he read in kindergarten.”After I read it, I started being really interested in sharks,” said the 9-year-old Falcon resident, donning a T-shirt that displays the words “Shark Expert.îHe became fascinated with their uniqueness, Christopher said. As he read more literature on sharks, he began to realize how endangered they are worldwide.”It’s not very common for people to like sharks, but I like them because of their purpose,” he said. Sharks have gotten a bad reputation for being harmful to humans, but their purpose is essential to a healthy marine ecosystem, Christopher said.”They don’t eat people because they’re man-eaters; they bite people because when people go out to swim, they look like something the sharks want to eat, like a seal or a turtle,î he added.Two years ago, Christopher met Dr. Alex Antoniou, founder of the nonprofit Fins Attached, which is an organization dedicated to shark conservation and advocacy. The two were introduced after Christopherís mother, Angie, a writer for ìThe New Falcon Herald,î interviewed Antoniou for a piece featured in the NFH. Christopher and Antoniou bonded over their passion for sharks, and both have spoken out for shark preservation.At a March 31 seminar, Antoniou talked about the rapid decline of the shark population, largely due to finning — the mass slaughter of sharks to satisfy the shark fin trade. Shark fins are considered a delicacy in various cuisines.”Sharks play the most significant role in the ocean,î Antoniou said. ìThey are important for the marine ecosystem’s health, and there have been tremendous imbalances around the world because sharks are being killed at such alarming rates.îAntoniou said massive shark killings create a chain reaction in the marine ecosystem.Sharks keep other marine populations in check; and, with their depletion is an overgrowth of other marine life, along with polluted oceans. Antoniou said because sharks are slow to grow and late to mature, their population has been unable to recover from such high rates of shark killing.Comprised of scientists, companies and other organizations, Fins Attached travels the world to conduct research on shark behavior, breeding and migration patterns.Antoniou said popular media has portrayed sharks as dangerous man-eaters.”Last year, the news said it was a ‘record year’ for shark attacks,î he said. ìIn 2014, there were 75 shark attacks, and that number jumped to 98 in 2015. There were six fatalities globally in 2015. How many people enter the ocean every day? Millions, every day… if sharks were really out to get us, don’t you think there would have been more attacks than 98?”As a guest speaker at the March seminar, Christopher introduced his plan to raise funds for Fins Attached when he unveiled two T-shirt designs. He invited the crowd to purchase the shirts — all profits support Fins Attached. “These shirts send the message to stop finning and let people know what it is,î Christopher said.His mother said, “When Christopher read about finning, he got so angry. The T-shirts were a long-time coming. We asked him, ‘Would you like to do something about finning?’ This was his answer.”To give back to Christopher, Antoniou had a surprise for him: a fundraiser to allow Christopher to join Fins Attached on a research project next year, where he will have the chance to live his dream: swim with the sharks.”Twenty years ago … I pledged to myself … when I realized that sharks were in danger on a global scale that I would keep doing this until one of two things happened: either sharks were assured to be safe, or there were no more sharks left to save,” Antoniou said. And Christopher is right there with him!To donate to the Christopher Scholarship Fund, text 41444 with the message “Shark,” enter a donation amount and a name. All proceeds will fund his upcoming trip; the goal is to raise $7,500.For more information on Fins Attached and to purchase Christopherís T-shirts, visit http://finsattached.org.
