Name: Charlie Kregsman

Social Justice Group: 2018-2019, Ocean Health

Date of Fieldwork: January 7, 2019

Name of Organization: NY Aquarium

Person (people) with whom I met and their job titles: Two employees toured us who were from the Aquarium.

Type of Fieldwork: Tour of Organization

What I did:

We received a tour of the new exhibit about sharks in the New York Aquarium on January 7, 2019. The exhibit discussed the differences between different species of sharks, their relationship with humans, and some threats they face. We also got to see the part of the aquarium where they filter water and sand using large tubes. At the end, we watched a seal perform tricks, which was a fun ending to the trip.

What I learned:

We learned that sharks face serious threats from hunting because their fins are used to make nail polish and in shark fin soup, which is popular in East Asia. They also can get caught in the nets of fishermen and from food shortages due to humans overfishing in their territory. We also learned that sharks are not as dangerous as people think, and that they usually only attack humans if they smell blood or feel threatened. We also learned that most of the oxygen we breathe doesn’t come from trees, but from the ocean which has the ability to absorb carbon dioxide and is responsible for 80% of our oxygen. So the next time you thank the trees for the air we breathe, you should thank the ocean instead.

What I learned about Social Justice “work” and/or Civil and Human rights “work” from this fieldwork:

We learned about how some states, like California, are banning the use of plastic bags because the ocean is filled with plastic pollution. This plastic can kill fish, which threaten shark populations. We also learned about plastic straw bans that also try to reduce plastic in the ocean. These bans usually have limitations, such as allowing people to use straws if they request them, but it’s a good start.