Sharks are in serious danger
Learn why and how you can help 🦈
Scientists say sharks and rays are disappearing from the world's oceans at an "alarming" rate. The number of sharks found in the open oceans has plunged by 71% over half a century, mainly due to over-fishing, according to a new study. Three-quarters of the species studied are now threated with extinction. Top predators like sharks are important to maintaining biodiversity, and their removal can have ripple effects through an ecosystem.
Sharks are declining rapidly on a global scale because humans have replaced them as the ocean's top predators. One way that humans hunt sharks is by using a practice called shark finning. This is the process of slicing off a shark’s fin and discarding the rest of the still-living body, often by dumping it back into the ocean.
You can help sharks simply by raising awareness. If you know that a restaurant is serving shark fin, raise awareness of shark finning with the people that you eat with. Tell them about the cruel practice and try to convince them to also stop going to the restaurant. You may also support charity like Maddison Stewart's project aimed at providing shark fishermen of Indonesia with alternative income source like tourism.