Dr. Susan Lark, a popular Internet physician, promotes squalane - an ingredient found in shark liver oil - for its ability to help skin "maintain its moisture and elasticity." But squalane can be obtained from a much more abundant source: olives.
Deep-sea sharks are some of the most vulnerable sharks in the world. They typically grow slowly, mature late in life and have only a few young during their long lives. As a result, deep-sea shark populations are at extreme risk from exploitation and recover very slowly.
Tell Dr. Lark she ought to leave deep-sea sharks alone. The health - and beauty - of our oceans depends on it.
Dear Dr. Lark,
I am writing to you because I am deeply concerned about your promotion of beauty products containing squalane, which comes from deep-sea sharks. These sharks are some of the most vulnerable sharks in the world. They typically grow slowly, mature late in life and have only a few young during their long lives. As a result, deep sea shark populations are at extreme risk from exploitation and recover very slowly.
You claim this product is okay because the sharks are caught as bycatch in the orange roughy fishery. What you fail to note is that to catch orange roughy heavy trawl gear is pulled over seamounts - underwater mountains teeming with fish, deep sea corals, and large sponges – scooping up everything in its path. This dirty fishing practice has decimated the populations of orange roughy, deep sea sharks and other species while damaging corals that are thousands of years old. That's why virtually all "safe seafood guides" beg consumers to avoid eating orange roughy altogether. The oceans would be a healthier place without orange roughy fisheries
[Your comment here]
By selling this product, you are providing financial support to this extremely damaging industry and contributing to the decline of shark populations. If you truly believe that squalane is a beauty magic potion, you can find it in several botanic sources including rice bran, wheat germ, amaranth seed and olives.
You note on your website that olives are a great source of squalane; why don't you make this your sole source of squalane instead? I urge you to do so - the world's deep-sea sharks will thank you. These predators are crucial to the health - and beauty - of our oceans.
