Protecting Sharks

Sharks are long-lived fish species that reach sexual maturity later in life and produce relatively few offspring during their lifetimes. These biological characteristics make them particularly vulnerable to commercial fishing pressure and other human-related impacts.

The loss of sharks, due to both targeted and incidental capture in commercial fisheries, has been shown to negatively impact marine ecosystems. As top ocean predators, sharks play a critical role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems. Declines in shark populations can disrupt the marine food chain and alter the balance of ocean life. This imbalance can affect the behavior and abundance of other fish species, in some cases allowing lower-level predators to increase in number and cause a decline in smaller prey species.