https://www.npr.org/sections/corona...l-half-a-million-sharks-conservationists-warn A Coronavirus Vaccine Could Kill Half A Million Sharks, Conservationists Warn Grey reef sharks, seen in Fiji, are among the top species of sharks fished for their liver oil. A conservation group is warning that the development of an effective coronavirus vaccine on a global scale could ravage shark populations worldwide, as researchers race to produce a vaccine using an oil derived from sharks. Squalene, a compound that is harvested from the livers of sharks, is a common moisturizing ingredient in cosmetics. It's also used in malaria and flu vaccines as an agent that boosts the immune system's response. Shark Allies, a nonprofit that advocates for the protection of sharks, projects that some 500,000 sharks could be killed if a coronavirus vaccine with shark squalene proves to be effective. Already, an estimated 2.7 million sharks are killed annually for their squalene to make cosmetics, according to the group. "The problem is that squalene, used as an ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine, will be seen as something that's unavoidable, and then as it becomes tested, it becomes the normal ingredient, and nothing else will be tested," Shark Allies executive director Stefanie Brendl told NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday. As of Oct. 2, there were 193 coronavirus vaccines in clinical and pre-clinical evaluation, according to data released by the World Health Organization. At least five of those vaccines contain shark squalene, according to Shark Allies. There are more sustainable squalene alternatives, said Brendl. Squalene's nonanimal sources include olive oil, sugar cane, wheat germ, bacteria and yeast. Nonanimal squalene's identical chemical nature to shark squalene should mean an indistinguishable effectiveness in vaccines, according to Shark Allies. However, the extraction of shark squalene has been a more attractive option for producers as it can cost less and yield greater quantities than nonanimal alternatives. Brendl worries that a dependence on shark squalene in coronavirus vaccine trials is shortsighted and prevents the exploration of sustainable alternatives. "Our ask is that we start testing the alternatives, because long term, we cannot rely on a wild animal resource for a global need of anything," she said. When it comes to a potentially life-saving vaccine, Brendl isn't saying that shark populations are worthier of protection than humans. But conserving the ocean's top predators, she said, can in fact preserve the rest our ecosystem — humans included. "They keep our fish stock healthy, they keep the food chain intact, they keep diseases out of other animal populations," she said. "Good luck trying to replace that when we lose them."
Whatever... give me the vaccine. currently only like 4-5% of COVID19 experimental vaccines use shark. There are over a billion sharks in the world right now. 75 million sharks a year are killed by Asians for food and medicine. I don’t have an issue with effort made to try using something other than shark in future vaccines but for now, I am not worried about sharks when trying to find a vaccine for COVID19.
It would be nice to quantify "more expensive" wrt sustainable alternatives. If it saves them $.03 per 100,000 vaccine dosages, like coke switching from cane sugar to corn syrup, pay the three f*****g cents. If it actually effects the ability to get the vaccine to people, f the sharks.
If a shark had to choose between humans and shark coronavirus vaccine, the shark would choose the vaccine.
Less sharks means more seals. Let's add seals to our diet and ecosystem will be fine. I bet they're delicious with a little garlic salt.
This would be totally cool if the Asian shark-fin industry hadn't spent the past 30 years decimating shark populations. Next they'll want more tiger penis and rhino horn and gorilla paws and.... Because they think it'll make life longer, or small dick harder, or eyesight better, or whatever it is. **** Eastern "Magical Medicine".
If they are able to use Bull Sharks off the gulf coast I'm okay with it. They are certainly not endangered down here. But yeah... if it saves our human species, a vaccine should be created even at the cost of a few hundred thousand sharks, but the US government should also be investing in aggressive environmental changes too with other governments to ensure we also have a livable environment, and that involves preserving species that are important to our ecosystem. But right now I think the pandemic takes precedent.
If they come from Grey Reef Sharks they aren't endangered but near threatened. While they are fished for shark fin soup the biggest threat to them seems to be habitat loss from degradations of coral reefs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_reef_shark
I have no idea about the costs but I find it surprising that getting squalene from plants is more expensive than from sharks. I don't think sharks can be harvested large scale but are taken by individual fisherman. If squalene can come from wheat germ that seems like it would be win win for US farmers.
Covid19 is also decimating minsk farms with almost a 50% deathrate. If it is introduced in wild populations which is only a matter of time it could be an existential threat to them. So sure.. try to find alternatives but if there was no other way then breed sharks and harvest them instead of endangering wild populations. Sell the leftover shark fins to the chinese.
