It is estimated that 100 million sharks are killed every year, driven by a demand for fins, meat and other products. The global shark market is, ultimately, driven by money. What we need, therefore, is a better understanding amongst coastal communities where practices such as finning are rife, that living sharks have value.

In the Bahamas, sharks are protected. This has helped maintain a healthy ecosystem while also boosting the economy. The health and diversity of the shark population brings in people from all over the world – divers, photographers and filmmakers – benefiting local tour operators, restaurants and hotels.

Sharks have been around for more than 400 million years, surviving multiple mass extinctions. Despite their incredible ability to adapt and survive, they are perhaps facing their greatest threat yet – humankind. As our global population increases, the demand for more is relentless. Natural resources above and below are straining under the pressure. The ocean and its inhabitants have long been considered an endless resource, something we know now to be far from true. For island nations such as the Bahamas, which relies on fishing for employment and the wider economy, headlines such as ‘No fish by 2050’ and ‘More plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050’ are alarming. The ocean and the creatures that call it home are central to life on the island. As such, most Bahamians know the importance of protection.

I live in Bimini, the westernmost part of the Bahamas, a short distance from the coast of Florida. Bimini is known for its population of sharks. I see sharks every day and learn something new about these remarkable creatures every time I share the water with them. There are very few places in the world where sharks can be encountered so readily. The thought of being surrounded by sharks might terrify some, but for me it’s both a pleasure and a privilege. I take great pride in the programmes and operators working on the island – Sharklab, local research-supporting Bimini Scuba Center and the non-profit Sharks4Kids – and the fact that Bimini seems to be bucking the shocking global shark trends. Our healthy populations sit in contrast to global statistics that include 24% of sharks, rays and skate being listed as threatened or near threatened with extinction.