Sharks

Sharks face a range of threats, including overfishing, habitat loss, climate change, and pollution, which are putting many species at risk of extinction.

Shark finning

Shark finning involves catching sharks, removing their fins while they are still alive, and discarding the rest of the animal back into the ocean where it often dies a slow and painful death.

The demand for shark fins has increased in recent years due to their high monetary and cultural value, leading to an estimated 23 to 73 million sharks being finned each year.

While many countries have implemented regulations to limit or ban shark finning, enforcement remains a challenge.

Fisheries bycatch

Bycatch refers to the unintentional capture of non-target species, including sharks, during fishing operations. Bycatch poses a significant threat to sharks, as they may be caught in large numbers and discarded, injured, or killed. Bycatch can also impact the wider marine ecosystem by disrupting the balance of predator and prey species.

Threats to the ocean ecosystem

Overfishing, climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction are among the most significant threats to ocean health. Climate change is a particularly major concern, as rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification can have significant impacts on the survival and reproduction of many shark species. Pollution and habitat destruction has already hampered the availability of food and shelter for sharks, making it even more difficult for them to survive and reproduce.

To make matters worse, sharks have a very slow life history. Slow growing and late to mature, some shark species only produce a handful of pups every two to three years and their populations are very sensitive to overfishing. When overfished in such high numbers, the damage inflicted can result in populations taking decades to recover.

Are sharks mammals?

No, sharks are not mammals. They are actually a type of fish. Unlike mammals, sharks don’t grow hair, produce milk, or have a neocortex (part of the brain involved in perception and thought, among other things). Instead, like other fish, sharks have gills, are cold-blooded and are covered in denticles (tooth-like scales).

Do sharks have bones?

Technically not. Sharks do have a skeletal structure, but it is made of cartilage, which is a flexible and durable tissue that helps sharks maneuver in the water and minimises the energy they need to spend while swimming. It’s a bit like the material found in our ears and noses.

Do sharks sleep?

Until recently, it was thought that sharks did not sleep in the same way that humans or other animals do. They had only ever been observed resting on the ocean floor or in caves, or swimming at a slower pace to conserve energy. Interestingly, though, a one study found that some sharks (like New Zealand’s draughtsboard shark) have muscles in their mouths that pump water over their gills, allowing them to breathe while resting, meaning they do in fact fall asleep during their resting periods–sometimes with their eyes open.

Do sharks lay eggs?

While many sharks give birth to live offspring, some species of sharks do in fact lay eggs (they’re often referred to as a “mermaid purse”). These are known as oviparous sharks.

How many teeth do sharks have?

The number of teeth that sharks have varies depending on the species. However, most sharks have multiple rows of teeth which are continuously shed and replaced throughout their lives.

Great white sharks have as few as 50 teeth, while whale sharks have the highest tooth count with 3,000 tiny, pointed teeth.

How long do sharks live?

On average, most sharks live between 20 and 30 years, although some can live much longer. The Greenland shark, for example, can live at least 272 years, and is one of the longest-lived vertebrates (backboned animals) in existence.  

IFAW is working to reduce the global mortality of sharks and rays by putting limits into place to manage the trade and catch that is driving shark declines worldwide,

For over a decade, we have partnered with member countries of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to achieve limitations on the trade in threatened shark species—ensuring any continued trade is legally and sustainably sourced (this is known as an Appendix II listing of the Convention).  

Listed species are provided robust regulation, monitoring, and enforcement of sustainable trade limits by governments all over the world. CITES management prioritizes the identification and seizures of illegal shipments of shark products, as well as driving better fisheries management at the national level—leading to effective reductions in shark and ray mortality worldwide.  

IFAW also provides support to action on these regulations, such as identification and enforcement trainings, as well as the development of technical tools as governments seek to enact CITES listings for sharks and rays at home.  

By focusing on sustainable trade limits for shark species, we hope these listings will provide a global framework to prevent the shark trade from driving species towards extinction, and individual countries can then make decisions on trade and fisheries based on the health of populations in their waters. 

With support from our partners, IFAW advocates for sustainable trade limits for shark species threatened by the international demand for shark fins and provides resources and support to governments seeking to better manage sharks and rays in their region.