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Biodiversity is really how we define [br]our own existence, isn't it.

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It's us and say tens of millions[br]of other species

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that occupy this planet with us.

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It's like there's this incredible web [br]where we're all connected.

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And when you start to lose [br]these linchpin species,

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the environment starts to fail.

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When we translate human activity [br]into these forces of extinction,

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there are several major factors[br]that are contributing.

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One of the major drivers of extinction

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is that we hunt some species to oblivion.

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It's what we're doing with sharks now.

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With the explosion of demand [br]for shark fin soup,

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global estimates for the shark fin trade

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put it in the neighborhood[br]of a billion dollars.

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It's a huge amount of money.

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So, sharks are targeted[br]by fleets around the world.

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They may simply cut the fins off [br]and then release them

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to a slow and very unpleasant death.

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Do you keep all the sharks? [br]Or put the bodies back?

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You cut the fins? Then toss.

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We don't actually know how many sharks[br]are in the ocean.

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What we do know is that the big sharks,

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the apex predator [br]in the open ocean food chain,

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their numbers have declined [br]between 90 and 99 percent.

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Sharks have survived [br]four mass extinction events.

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They've been around the planet[br]longer than dinosaurs.

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A lot longer.

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Sharks have ruled our oceans[br]for over 400 million years.

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They've been responsible for regulating[br]and maintaining

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the entire balance across our oceans.

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Now we're in a situation where sharks[br]are being removed from that system.

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Humans are really the single [br]most impactful species

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this planet has ever seen.

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We have these prehistoric brains[br]and we have this god-like technology

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and when you bring them together,

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the result is not necessarily a happy one.

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You know, species are like[br]a house of cards.

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You can't just sort of take one card[br]out of the deck

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and not expect the deck to crumble.

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