You are at the beach with your friends. You are hot and sweaty from lying out, so you decide to take a dip in the ocean. The water is only up to your knees, but before you get a chance to go in any deeper, you feel something pierce your leg. The water that was once crystal clear suddenly turns pure red. While screaming at the top of your lungs, you realize that everyone around you is shrieking and running away. This is an example of someone experiencing a shark attack. Why are so many humans suffering from attacks like these so frequently? Are sharks really a menace to society? Many of us do not know the answers to these questions and are uneducated about sharks. While Jaws and other movies portray sharks as predators who devour innocent swimmers, nothing could be further from the truth.
             Scientists are just beginning to realize how important sharks are to humans. Their liver-oil, meat, cartilage and skin are valued by many industries. Many people believe that shark cartilage can help prevent cancer, and it is also used as a potential skin replacement for burn victims. Shark liver oil has a high concentration of Vitamin A, and it is known to improve people's health. Due to new technology, we are now able to take corneas from shark's eyes and have them transplanted into people. Their sharp teeth and rough skin did not go to waste. They were once used for spears and sandpaper, but we now use their skin for strong leather. Some sharks are used as food for livestock, while others are used for their meat or in shark fin soup. "After learning why sharks are so important to humans, people are now more likely to see them as magnificent predators than as menacing monsters."
             Without sharks the world's oceans would not be as healthy as they are today. They eat dead, injured, and diseased fish, and help maintain the balance of nature by reducing animal populations. This protects plants and other living organisms
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