Scientists and marine researchers from Global FinPrint are gearing up to explore the underwater world to make a comprehensive survey on the population of sharks by taking "shark selfies." 

To help the team achieve their goal of accurately counting and mapping shark's population worldwide, they are using a set-up called BRUV or baited remote underwater video, News Everyday reports.

The procedure is quite simple but could be dangerous. If there's any shark near the location where the BRUV was placed, they will swim close to the BRUV after smelling the bait. The scientists will then playback the video that was taken and generate shark selfies, giving them the chance to accurately count the number of sharks and other marine creatures captured in a specific location.

Gulf News reported that Mike Heithaus, a shark researcher from Florida International University, said, "People may not realize it, but people need sharks."

Heithaus added that sharks help in maintaining the underwater ecosystem. Sharks do this by eating creatures such as turtles and sea cows that can "overgraze" sea grass. Sea grasses are the primary food source and habitat of smaller fish and even shrimps that people consume.

However, the population of sharks is slowly diminishing in some parts of the world. Sharks are currently being hunted on a massive scale. Heithaus said that at least 100 million sharks are being killed yearly, mainly for their meat and fins.

According to Christian Science Monitor, the study is going to be completed after three years. The program is being funded by Vulcan Inc., a company founded by Paul G. Allen, who is the co-founder of Microsoft.

The Global FinPrint project aims to provide concrete and viable information by 2018. Hopefully, the data can give the location where the shark's population is quite low. Aside from population density, the data will also include "habitats and diversity trends," PR Newswire reports.

The people behind the study are hoping that the data that they will provide in the future can help the government and various agencies take certain measures to help save the sharks.