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When people first hear about sharks, they think of shark attacks, but sharks who are normally the predator, have become the prey. A new report released by Oceana today shows how valuable for the ocean ecosystem. It also shows that as shark populations decline, the oceans suffer unpredictable consequences. Director of Florida Program for Shark research, George Burgess, says humans kill 70 to 75 million sharks and 30 million close relatives every year. He says sharks are very important to the ecosystem. Although the decline in shark population is very harmful, Burgess says it is hard to say how much it will affect the ecosystem. The report says 26 to 73 million sharks are killed for their fins. Burgess says this is because fins are regarded as a delicacy in many Asian countries. He says in the process of obtaining the fins, the sharks are fatally harmed. Burgess says although people are really scared of sharks, it is important to research them. He says there are reasons why sharks are in danger, and one way to prevent it is to get the public informed. One of Oceana's recommendation to protecting the shark population is to reduce the number of sharks captured in commercial fisheries through improved shark management, including requiring strict species specific quotas and stock assessments