End of the Line: The Big Picture

The End of the Line, a new report by Oceana and WildAid, provides an overview of the factors affecting the survival of sharks, as well as a call to action to reduce the demand for shark products and implement solutions as part of the a global effort. The consumption of sharks and shark products are driving shark populations to extinction, and this new report serves as a wake-up call to act now. The following are key findings from the WildAid and Oceana report:

Sharks inhabit all the world's oceans and have occupied them for more than 400 million years.

Of the 313 shark species assessed by the IUCN, 45 (14.38%) are listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.

As other fisheries are depleted, fishermen are now targeting sharks, but sharks are not designed to handle the threat of humans and they have never faced a predator as voracious as man.

The increasing demand for shark fins has helped fishermen quickly learn a great deal of money can be made shark finning.

With poorer nations depending on sharks for meat, it is a necessity that sharks be fished sustainably and not have their meat wasted.

Sharks are considered low priority species in many nations which results in little data and monitoring of catches.

Despite the declines in shark populations, only the great white, basking, and whale sharks are protected from the pressures of international trade under CITES regulations.

While there is an irrational fear of sharks underlying the lack of will to conserve them, sharks are very valuable to the ecosystem.

Solutions will come from: learning more about sharks, reducing fishing pressure, stopping unnecessary bycatch, monitoring shark fishing and trade, and more enforcement of regulations. But nothing will happen if the demand for shark products is not reduced and that requires a global effort.

Five Things You Can Do to Help Save Sharks
Sharks are being caught at unsustainable levels due to the high demand for their fins, liver oil, and meat. Shark populations globally are in trouble but there are things you can do to help.

Do not eat shark fin soup.
Only eat sustainably caught seafood.
Do not purchase cosmetic products if they have the ingredient squalene or squalane from sharks.
Write to your congressman to ask them to help protect sharks.
Help correct people's misconceptions about sharks-sharks don't hunt humans!