How Are Mexico’s sharks doing? – Level 1

Keyword Description
Unprovoked Happening without any reason
Fins a thin vertical part sticking out of the body of a fish that helps balance and movement
Conservation Protecting and preserving the natural world, plants and animals.

In 1975, the movie “Jaws” was released, and it made people very scared of sharks. Sharks are big fish that live in the ocean, and they have sharp teeth. Despite fears from the movie, shark attacks are actually very rare. There are two types of shark bites. One is when a shark bites someone without being bothered, called an unprovoked bite. The other is when people do something to the shark, like touching it, and it bites back, which is a provoked bite.

In Mexico, sharks live in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. In 2024, there were no shark attacks in Mexico, but in the past five years, there were eight attacks, four of which were serious. Sadly, humans are more dangerous to sharks. Every year, millions of sharks are caught, especially for their fins, which are sold for a lot of money.

Mexico has special places where people can dive and see sharks safely, like Playa del Carmen and Cabo Pulmo. These places protect sharks and let people see them in their natural home. This helps both sharks and people because it brings tourists who love to see these amazing creatures. These conservation efforts will help shark numbers to recover, and protect life in our oceans.

Bridging words

These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?

English Spanish
Shark Tiburón
Tourism Turismo
Ocean Océano

Time to discuss

  • Why do people find sharks fascinating even though they are a bit scary?
  • How can tourism help in protecting sharks?
  • What can people do to help sharks stay safe in the ocean?

Let’s Write

Answer the following questions in one paragraph

  • Describe what makes sharks unique creatures of the ocean.
  • Explain the importance of shark conservation for our planet.

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