Learn more about the 66 types of shark you can find in New Zealand.
In some Asian countries, shark fin soup is a desirable meal used for special occasions such as weddings. To get the fins, people catch the shark and slice off the fins.
Discuss with a friend: Why do you think people do this?
The New Zealand government has a law to protect sharks from being killed in this way. What do you think had to happen in order for that law to be put in place?
Tangata whenua (people of the land) who have been given responsibility to protect and look after an area’s resources. They act to look after ecosystems by looking at them as a whole, and recognize that all things are interconnected.
An area that is legally protected from activities that remove plants/animals or alter their habitat, unless it is being done for scientific purposes. Swimming, boating, and scuba diving are usually allowed in marine reserves, but not activities such as fishing, dredging, or mining.
