On Aug. 7, 1991, The Bremerton Progress published a guest column by Kitsap County resident and avid sportsman, Bob Gartin, titled, “Bite back — eat shark.”

Gartin wrote, “You might be surprised how many times you have actually eaten shark, remarked on its great taste and never gave it another thought.”

It’s true that shark is often eaten around the world as a substitute for swordfish or the “fish” in fish ’n’ chips. Gartin suggested to readers, “Don’t let preconceptions and small talk keep you from trying another fishing and eating adventure.”

Eat shark, he wrote.

However, wildlife conservation groups and environmental advocates have cautioned against consuming shark products, and are doing so with increasing urgency. Don’t eat shark, experts say.

Movies like “Jaws” (1975) and “The Shallows” (2016) might suggest otherwise, but shark attacks are responsible for an average of five human deaths each year. Meanwhile, 100 million sharks — yes, 100 million — are killed around the world annually, according to a study published by National Geographic.

That’s 20 million sharks for every human death.

The greatest culprit is the popularity of shark fin soup, which radically increased during the 1990s. The soup is considered a delicacy and a symbol of prosperity and health in Chinese traditions, and is extremely expensive.

However, shark fin itself is basically flavorless —  remember that fins are essentially cartilage. Culinarily speaking, fins are used as thickening agents.

Shark finning is illegal in U.S. waters, though importing and exporting are still permitted in much of the country.

However, 10 states in the U.S. have passed bans on the sale and trade of shark fins: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Texas and our own Washington.

However exciting or adventurous it may seem to sample shark, the costs are too high.

Here are some of the biggest reasons you should not eat shark, according to conservation group Support Our Sharks:

— Sharks keep our oceans healthy and productive. They naturally balance populations they feed on and prevent prey from over-grazing vital habitats.

— At the top of the food chain, sharks are indicator species of their ecosystems’ health, much like salmon or grizzly bears are in theirs.

— Sharks are being fished at a rate faster than they can recover. Populations are in rapid decline. Reports published by National Geographic in 2013 estimated that between 6.4 percent and 7.9 percent of all species are killed every year. To maintain populations, the maximum rate should be no more than 4.9 percent.

— Shark meat contains toxic mercury. It’s in your own interest to avoid ingesting shark meat. Sharks are at the top of the food pyramid, and are thus prone to bioaccumulation. The risks of consuming too much mercury include neurological disorders, infertility, and even death.

— Allison Trunkey is an intern for Sound Publishing in Kitsap County. You can contact her at atrunkey@soundpublishing.com.