Sharks are under serious threat around the world and it is estimated that about 100 million sharks are being killed each year. Between highly industrialized fishing to common fears leading to a lack of implementing protection, sharks are continuing to be targeted worldwide.
Most sharks are apex predators at the top of the food chain, and therefore have very few predators of their own. According to the IUCN red list, 20%-30% of sharks are currently listed as endangered, critically endangered, vulnerable, or near threatened by extinction, mainly due to human interference. As shark populations are declining drastically, humans are becoming the new face of predators.
Sharks play vital roles in maintaining ocean health. If shark populations decline, so does the health of our oceans. Sharks are slow growing, mature late in life, have long pregnancies, and produce very few young, making them especially vulnerable to exploitation.
1. Bycatch
Bycatch is the unintentional capture of unwanted or non-targeted animals during commercial fishing. Fisheries targeting other species of fish are having major impacts on shark populations. Bycatch accounts for about half of the global shark catches and according to WWF, 3.3 million sharks are caught each year in the Pacific Ocean alone.
2. Pollution
Ingestion:
Pollution has a major impact on shark populations. Plastics ingested by sharks can block digestive tracts and damage linings in the stomach. Sharks are often at the top of the food chain, which means they are likely to have a higher concentration of plastic toxins in their body as plastics build up in the bodies of their prey.
Microplastics are another form of plastics that are problematic for filter-feeding sharks, such as whale sharks and basking sharks. As filter feeders swim with their mouths open to consume large quantities of food, they are also ingesting microplastics into their bodies.
Entanglement:
Hundreds of sharks have become entangled in plastic waste and fishing gear making it difficult for them to swim or eat, which leads to starvation or drowning.
3. Demand for authentic shark products and food
Shark fin demand:
Shark finning is the process of catching and cutting off the fins of sharks and discarding the rest of the animal. The shark is usually thrown back into the ocean to bleed out and die. Shark fin soup is considered a delicacy in certain parts of the world, and approximately 23-73 million sharks are finned each year globally causing immense damage to shark populations.
Shark liver oil:
Industries are developing around the use of sharks, as squalene is extracted from shark livers for cosmetic and pharmaceutical products.
Shark teeth and jaws:
Other shark products, such as shark teeth and jaws, are sold in many tourist shops and can often sell for substantial sums.
4. Overfishing
Overfishing is the largest threat to shark populations. Sharks are among the most threatened marine animals worldwide and recent estimates suggest that populations of many sharks have declined by 90% in areas where they were once abundant. As the demand for shark products are met, sharks are continuing to be overfished. Sharks are being killed based on economic necessity and this necessity exists because of the high price that people are willing to pay for shark products.
5. Habitat degradation
Sharks depend on a healthy ecosystem to survive, but ecosystems also depend on sharks to survive. Habitat degradation is caused by climate change, pollution, and other human activities that destroy mangroves and reefs.
Mangroves and reefs are especially important areas to sharks as they are used for breeding and eating, as well as providing protection and food for young pups.
6. Fear of sharks
The fear of sharks and the neglect to learn about them drives the lack of compassion and humanity to help conserve them. As the media continues to sensationalize stories, and movies continue to utilize the same killer and vengeful sharks, the fear of sharks is continuing to grow. The killing of sharks is occurring because our fear of them stops us from saving them.
MISS Contributed Post: Aug. 2020
Common threats to sharks
Written by Miasara Andrew
After receiving a BA in marine science at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg Florida, Mia will be starting a masters program this fall at the University of Miami focusing on the electroreception of sharks!
During undergrad, Mia was chosen to work at the Bimini Biological Field Station to assist in projects with migrations of Lemon Sharks and Caribbean reef sharks; she's also spent time researching shark biodiversity in South Africa last summer!
Mia is proud to be a #WOSea!
Check out MISS- Minorities in Shark Sciences
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