Oceans are responsible for capturing between five and 12 billion tons of carbon every year. The carbon stored in the marine ecosystem is known as blue carbon, and the presence of sharks protects those areas since turtles and other prey species will avoid it. As a result, there will be an increase in seagrass, capturing carbon 35 faster than tropical rainforests (via Shark Guardian).

When a shark dies of natural causes, the carbon into its body is captured into the sediments. Which means the carbon isn’t released into the atmosphere. The sharks’ carcasses can often become the home of deep-sea scavengers.

During their lives, sharks also help to create micro-habitats for tiny animals. When they look for food in sandy areas, sharks excavate the sand, creating a perfect environment for invertebrates (via WWF).

Sharks are also crucial for the phytoplankton, a microscopic marine plant that creates oxygen through photosynthesis and regulates food web dynamics. The animals often dive deep to eat them, and on their way back, they defecate, spreading crucial nutrients improving the growth of phytoplankton.

Sharks are indeed fascinating. Unsurprisingly, the tourism of some cities relies on them. According to research, Indonesia could lose 25% of diving tours if there were no sharks in the region (via Frontiers in Marine Science).