OCEANA'S CAMPAIGN TO SAFEGUARD SHARKS

Sharks play a vital role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems but their stocks are in serious trouble. More than one hundred million sharks are killed by fisheries every year. They are intentionally harvested for their fins, meat or liver oil, and they are incidentally caught as bycatch in fisheries targeting other species.

Sharks are highly migratory and regularly cross national boundaries. However, outside of Antarctica, there are no international limits on shark harvest. With increasing demand for shark fin soup, and little protection, sharks worldwide are at great risk.

Oceana is working in U.S. waters to protect and restore shark populations. Through our policy, science, legal and communications work, Oceana is pushing for true finning bans, species specific shark management and reduced shark bycatch, as well as decreasing the demand for shark products such as shark fin soup and cosmetic products containing squalene. The loss of sharks, many of which are top predators, will have devastating and unpredictable consequences for ocean ecosystems. Immediate action is needed to protect sharks.

Oceana is also working in other parts of the world to protect sharks. Check out what Oceana is doing in Europe and South America. 

January Jones, lead actress of the Emmy award-winning TV series Mad Men, is the new spokesperson for Oceana's campaign to save sharks. "We should be scared for sharks," said the Golden Globe nominee. "I hope people will join me in the fight to save sharks and our oceans." For more information about January Jones' partnership with Oceana and to view her PSAs, please visit http://oceana.org/scaredforsharks.

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