Swimming Against the Current

Over 270 trillion fish are pulled from the oceans annually, and sharks - many already endangered - are vanishing at alarming rates. “The United States is the seventh worst country in the world for killing sharks,” said Jim Abernethy, lifetime conservationist and founder of Wildlife VOICE. “Even with a shark fin trade ban, Florida kills 1.1 million sharks a year.”

Contrary to popular belief, the United States is not immune to the global demand for shark fin soup. The delicacy traditionally served at weddings and banquets in parts of Asia is one of the leading drivers of global shark decline. Despite having little flavor on its own, the fin is prized for its texture and perceived status. “Shark fin soup” is the number one reason sharks are disappearing. It’s not a regional problem. It’s a global one,” Abernethy explained. Often, sharks are caught, their fins sliced off, and the rest of the body discarded at sea, leaving the animal to die. This wasteful and inhumane practice has pushed many shark species toward the brink of extinction.

Despite growing awareness and legislative bans, the shark fin trade remains alarmingly resilient. Abernethy blames a broken system. “The wolf is guarding the henhouse,” he commented of NOAA’s shark fishing board, which he says includes commercial shark fishers themselves. Even current federal regulations fall short, allowing boats to take up to 29 sharks per trip, with no limit on daily outings.

While shark finning is often associated with East Asian markets, Abernethy points out that demand is fueled by a complex, often hidden supply chain that includes the U.S. “People make a living exploiting wildlife, and when you cut off one route, they find another,” he stated.

The fin trade is only part of the picture. Abernethy also highlighted how bycatch from industrial fishing - often used to feed livestock like cattle - is wiping out fish populations at an unsustainable rate. “Here’s the sick irony: cattle are the largest consumers of fish on the planet, even though they’re herbivores. We feed them fish because bycatch is cheaper than grass,” he exclaimed.

The interconnected issues derived from killing sharks spiral out of control when looked through a broadened lens. “Animal agriculture is the first leading cause of 11 of the world’s worst problems,” explained Abernethy. Species extinction, disease, starvation, and pollution were among the issues that he listed. He emphasized that while the shark fin trade is driven by prestige and tradition, the broader consumption of animal products - including fish bycatch used in cattle feed - amplifies a global system of destruction. “The number of wild animals on Earth today is just 4%. The rest are either livestock or pets. That imbalance is both shocking and unsustainable.”

Abernethy also warns that the destruction of shark populations is a symptom of a larger issue: the mistaken belief that the ocean is inexhaustible. “My generation was taught that the ocean couldn’t be emptied. That it was this bottomless pit of life. But it’s not. It’s already collapsing. If we don’t stop now, the ripple effects will touch every part of life on Earth - whether you live on the coast or in the middle of the country.”

Healthy shark populations are directly tied to the health of the ocean, which in turn is connected to the health of the planet. “The ocean is the lungs of the Earth,” Abernethy emphasized. “More than 50% of the air we breathe comes from the ocean. And over 70% of the world’s protein comes from marine life. So, when we destroy shark populations, we’re not just hurting them - we’re hurting ourselves.”

With all sea life dwindling at an alarming rate, now is the time to act and preserve what is left of our oceans. Abernethy believes ecotourism is one of the most powerful tools we have to save wildlife. “We only protect what we love. And we only love what we spend time with,” he said.

In the early 2000s, Abernethy transformed Isla Mujeres, a struggling fishing village off Mexico’s coast, into a booming whale shark tourism hub. At the time, overfishing had depleted local marine life, and many fishermen were barely surviving. “They were angry, frustrated, and desperate. Their boats were falling apart, and they couldn’t feed their families,” he recalled. Then came an extraordinary discovery: a massive aggregation of whale sharks just 25 miles offshore, larger than any previously recorded. “I didn’t believe it at first. With China killing 800 whale sharks a year, I thought there was no way something like this still existed,” said Abernethy. But it did.

Abernethy launched the island’s first whale shark ecotourism operation, and within a single year, 12 more businesses followed. Today, more than 350 permitted tour operators support the local economy. “It’s a complete transformation,” Abernethy said. “The same fishermen who once hunted these animals are now their protectors. They have new boats, thriving businesses, and a future tied to preservation, not exploitation.”

Abernethy has spent the last three decades face-to-face with the world’s most misunderstood predators. But rather than fear them, he befriends them. “I don’t know anyone else teaching people how to make friends with wild animals - especially predators - on land or sea,” he remarked. “Isn’t it strange that the most feared animal on the planet is the one we’re now using to teach compassion?”

A pioneer of cageless shark diving, Abernethy runs Jim Abernethy’s Scuba Adventures and the nonprofit Wildlife VOICE. He’s on a mission to protect sharks, not just through science or legislation, but by helping others see them for what they are: sentient, affectionate beings that are, in his words, “worth more alive.”

Abernethy’s passion for the ocean began in childhood. “My earliest memory was following a sea turtle hatchling to the ocean. I fell in love with turtles and everything wild in the sea.” Today, Abernethy is best known for his relationship with sharks like Emma, a 15-foot tiger shark he’s known since 2001.

Their connection began during Abernethy’s early efforts to remove fishing hooks from sharks by hand - no cages, no feeding, just trust. Emma quickly distinguished herself, responding to gentle touch and returning for affectionate head rubs. “People think I’m crazy until they see it,” he said. “This enormous predator swims straight to me, stops, and waits for me to rub her head. She craves affection. It’s as clear as day.”

Since then, Abernethy has removed hundreds of fishing hooks from sharks by hand. He’s trained guests to do the same - earning the trust of predators by simply rubbing their heads. “When they come back for affection, it’s undeniable: these are not mindless monsters.”

Through Wildlife VOICE, his all-volunteer nonprofit, Abernethy mentors young conservationists like Cash Daniels, “The Conservation Kid,” who has already won multiple national awards. “If I can teach the next generation to think critically and act boldly, there’s still hope.”

The threats facing sharks today - overfishing, industrial agriculture, misguided policies, and cultural prestige - are vast and interconnected. But so are the solutions. Through ecotourism, education, policy reform, and emotional connection, Abernethy has helped rewrite the narrative - one personal interaction, one hook removal, one life-changing dive at a time. His conservation work is personal, persistent, and full of heart. “Love conquers all,” he said. “And if I can teach people to love sharks, maybe we’ll save them before it’s too late.”