Endangered Shark Species

It is sad the list of endangered shark species seems to be growing. Sharks are facing significant threats worldwide and below is an overview of the situation:
Endangered Shark Species and Their Locations:
1. Several shark species are critically endangered, including:
2. African spotted catshark (Western Indian Ocean)
3. Ganges shark (Rivers and estuaries of India and Bangladesh)
4. Irrawaddy river shark (Mangroves of Myanmar)
5. Daggernose shark (Northeastern coast of South America)
6. Angelshark (Mediterranean Sea and coastal areas of Norway, Sweden, Morocco, and Canary Islands)
7. Pondicherry shark (Northern Indian Ocean to West Pacific)
8. Great hammerhead (Tropical and warm waters worldwide)
9. Oceanic whitetip shark (Open oceans worldwide)
10. Scalloped hammerhead (Wide range in Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans)
11. Porbeagle shark (Northern and southern Atlantic Ocean)
Causes of Endangerment:
The main factors contributing to shark endangerment include:
1. Overfishing and bycatch in commercial fisheries
2. Demand for shark fins in the shark fin soup industry
3. Habitat destruction due to coastal development and pollution
4. Climate change impacts on marine ecosystems
5. Slow reproductive rates, making it difficult for populations to recover
Conservation Efforts:
Several initiatives are underway to protect endangered shark species:
1. Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) project: Scientists are mapping critical locations for sharks and rays to inform conservation planning
2. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List: Assessing and categorizing species’ conservation status
3. Marine protected areas and fishing regulations in some regions
4. Research and monitoring programs to better understand shark populations and habitats
Recommendations for Future Action:
1. To ensure the longevity of endangered shark species, the following steps can be taken:
2. Expand and enforce marine protected areas, especially in critical shark habitats
3. Implement stricter fishing regulations and bycatch reduction measures
4. Increase public awareness and education about shark conservation
5. Support sustainable fishing practices and alternatives to shark products
6. Enhance international cooperation for cross-border conservation efforts
7. Invest in research to better understand shark biology, behavior, and population dynamics
8. Develop and implement species-specific conservation plans
9. Address climate change and its impacts on marine ecosystems
By combining these efforts and increasing global commitment to shark conservation, we can work towards reversing the decline of endangered shark species and ensuring their long-term survival in our oceans.
Australia has implemented several measures to protect shark species and prevent their extinction:
National Plan of Action:
Australia has developed a National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, known as Shark-plan 2.
This plan articulates how Australia manages sharks and ensures compliance with international conservation and management obligations.
The Key aspects include:
1. Identifying research and management actions for long-term shark sustainability
2. Minimizing fishing impacts on sharks
3. Monitoring and enforcing existing protections
4. Addressing emerging issues like climate change impacts on sharks
Legal Protections:
Several shark species are protected under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
Each protected species has a recovery plan in place or under development to guide fisheries management.
Fishing Regulations:
In Commonwealth-managed fisheries, catch limits are set to maintain sustainable shark populations.
Commercial fishers must report any interaction with EPBC Act listed shark species.
Marine Protected Areas:
Australia has established one of the world’s largest marine protected area networks, covering 37% of its oceans.
While only about 15% are fully protected no-take areas, these provide some level of protection for sharks.
Shark Control Program Reforms:
Efforts are underway to transition existing shark control programs towards non-lethal technologies, reducing the impact on shark populations.
Research and Monitoring:
Australia regularly reviews its management arrangements using the best available scientific information to ensure effective shark conservation.
Collaboration with NGOs:
The government collaborates with organizations like the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Humane Society International to protect sharks and raise public awareness.
Regarding supertrawlers, while banning them worldwide could potentially help sustain ocean ecosystems, implementing such a ban is a little too complex due to:
1. International jurisdiction issues
2. Economic impacts on fishing industries and communities
3. Varying definitions of “supertrawler” across countries
4. Enforcement challenges in international waters
Instead of a global ban, many countries, including Australia, have implemented restrictions on supertrawlers in their waters and are working towards more sustainable fishing practices through international agreements and organizations.
I personally would like to see no more supertrawlers in the worlds oceans and we’ll then just need to find better uses for those vessels, probably eco-tourism.

Scroll to Top