The populations of some species of sharks in the high seas have been reduced by up to 71% since 1970. This has been indicated by a study that warns that three quarters of sharks are in danger of extinction, mainly due to the indiscriminate fishing of these sharks. specimens for consumption, especially in Asia.
The research exposing this problem, published in the journal Nature, looked at 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays that live in the high seas. The results showed that in 1980 a third of the species were threatened, while now that data has changed three quarters, something that, according to Nicholas Dulvy, one of the authors, has worsened very quickly in the last decade.
Administering one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to the entire world requires killing 250,000 sharks, a figure that doubles with the current two-dose format
The study indicates that the main cause of the danger of extinction of sharks is due to abuse in their fishing, as boats are becoming larger and capable of fishing more quantities with massive methods such as long lines of hooks with baits. . It must be remembered that some species of these animals take years to reach reproductive maturity, which makes their continuity difficult.
Squalene, used in the manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines
Another of the great problems faced by these species is their involvement in the manufacture of vaccines against COVID-19, which are being produced on a massive scale to try to immunize the population against the pandemic. What is being used to make these drugs is squalene, a substance that is extracted from shark liver oil.
Vaccines contain squalene because it is a component of some adjuvants that help strengthen the immune response. For example, the flu vaccine FLUAD (Chiron) contains up to 10 mg of this substance per dose.
As explained by Stefanie Brendl, director of Shark Allies, a shark protection organization, to EFE, millions of tons of squalene will be needed for COVID-19 vaccines, which would mean ending the lives of between 2,500 and 3,000 specimens. by Ton. In addition, they warn that administering a dose of the vaccine to the entire world would require 250,000 sharks, a figure that doubles to half a million with the current format of two doses for complete immunization.
The species that can give rise to more squalene are the devouring shark and the basking shark, both classified as vulnerable due to the significant decline in their population. From the organization they ask that this substance be obtained by other means, such as, for example, from plants and bacteria, as is done for use in cosmetic products.
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