Issues Facing Sharks

Sadly, many sharks are being chased towards extinction.

Current estimates reflect that over 73 million sharks are killed each year, although exact numbers are difficult to determine. Up to 90% of some shark species have already been wiped out in areas around the world, probably in oceans near you.

In the last 50 years, the slaughter of sharks has risen by 400%, and by 2017, it is anticipated that 20 species of sharks could become extinct.
97 to 99% of certain regional populations of shark species like Tigers and Hammerheads in the North Atlantic are already gone.
Even marine reserves like Galapagos and Cocos—where sharks are supposedly protected—are the target of illegal fisheries.
There is no international enforcement mechanism to enforce the laws intended to save sharks.
Sharks, slow to reproduce, cannot sustain the massive fishing pressures they are under.
In 2009, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reported over 1/3 of all shark species are threatened with extinction.
Many of the species commonly utilized in shark products are considered endangered, vulnerable or near threatened and often are obtained illegally.
A large percentage of shark fishing around the world is illegal and supports a ruthless black market.

And, the demand for shark fin, primarily driven by shark fin soup is continuing to skyrocket. Shark populations simply cannot keep up with the demand.

Consumption of shark fin (and profit for its black market trade) is at an all time high – the trade is global and underground.
Over the last 30 years, the number of people eating shark's fin has risen from a few million in the 1980’s to more than 300 million today.
Research indicates that each year, the fins of up to 73 million sharks are harvested and sold, mostly for shark fin soup.
A large percentage of these fins come from open ocean sharks like the blue shark, shortfin mako, silky, bull hammerhead and thresher sharks.
To obtain fins, fishermen often engage in sharkfinning at sea. Finning is a brutal process that involves slicing the fins off a live shark then throwing the shark back into the ocean to die.

We are witnessing a mass decimation of a species. And sharks are worth saving.

At the top of the food chain, sharks are critical to the health of our oceans.

Sharks keep our largest and most important ecosystem healthy. Our existence, in part, is dependent upon theirs.
Sharks have sat atop the oceans’ food chain, keeping our seas healthy for 450 million years.
Allowing the destruction of shark populations may be destroying the largest ecosystem on the planet - and our life support system.
Studies are already indicating that regional elimination of sharks can cause disastrous effects including the collapse of fisheries and the death of coral reefs.

Few people know or care that many shark species are rapidly moving towards extinction. Our irrational fear of sharks explains our lack of desire to save

Sharks are magnificent, intelligent creatures that have evolved in the oceans for over 400 million years.
Sharks are misunderstood and our fears are fueled by the media – not by fact.
People are more likely to be killed by a bee sting, lightning bolt or vending machine than a shark.
Only four people died (on record) due to a shark bite in 2008.
Of the over 500 species of sharks, only a handful of species have been linked to any incidents with humans – that is less than 5% of all shark species.

“It's a basic lesson in ecology - sharks, low in numbers naturally because they have few young, are targeted, numbers diminish past their tipping point, lower order predators and their prey proliferate, disease strikes the marine life further down the food chain because of the imbalance, algae flourish, coral are smothered, and the reef dies.”
-Judy Friedlander

Where to Find Shark Products

Laws Protecting Sharks

The Truth About Sharks

One

Predator or Prey

Sharks kill fewer than 4 humans on average each year, while humans kill an estimated 100 million sharks annually.

Two

Evolved to Perfection

Sharks have been honed to perfection, having existed on this planet for over 400 million years.

Three

Why We Need Sharks

Sharks play a vital role at the top of the food chain by maintaining balance in the oceans.

Four

Looming Extinction

* An estimated 73 million sharks are killed each year (that works out to more than 10,000 sharks per hour).

Five

Shark Fin Soup

Shark fins are tasteless, and may contain high levels of toxic methyl-mercury.

Six

Laws Protecting Sharks

Only a small number of countries have banned finning - many more need to be encouraged to enact legislation.

Seven

Shark Products

Many people assume that because they don’t eat shark fin soup – then they can’t possibly be contributing to the demise of the sharks and rays.

Issues Facing Sharks

The Truth About Sharks

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