HOW MANY SHARKS ARE KILLED
EACH YEAR?
HOW MANY SHARKS ARE KILLED EACH YEAR?
Each year, approximately 100 million sharks are killed globally. This staggering number includes sharks targeted for their fins, meat, oil, and cartilage, as well as those unintentionally caught as bycatch in fishing nets. The demand for shark fin soup, particularly in Asian markets, remains one of the main drivers of shark killings, with about 73 million sharks specifically killed for this purpose annually. Additionally, shark meat and byproducts have a substantial market, often integrated into various products, sometimes without proper labeling .
The most devastating fishing methods for sharks include longline fishing, gillnets, and bottom trawling. Longline fishing uses thousands of baited hooks on lines that can stretch for miles, indiscriminately catching sharks and other marine life. Gillnets, large nets that trap fish by their gills, also capture a significant number of sharks unintentionally. Bottom trawling, which involves dragging heavy nets along the seafloor, destroys habitats and captures a wide range of marine species, including sharks.
100 MILLION
SHARKS KILLED EACH YEAR
Shark finning, bycatch in fisheries, and targeted fisheries for shark meat are major contributors to their decline. Shark finning, the practice of removing a shark's fins and discarding the rest of the body at sea, remains prevalent despite being banned in many countries. Bycatch, where sharks are unintentionally caught in nets and longlines meant for other species, also significantly impacts shark populations. Furthermore, habitat destruction from coastal development, pollution, and the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems exacerbates the threats faced by sharks .
Efforts to mitigate these threats include international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which lists several shark species in its appendixes to regulate their trade. Conservation organizations advocate for stricter fishing regulations, better enforcement of existing laws, and increased awareness of the ecological importance of sharks.
