Shark Fishing vs Conservation: Analysis and Synthesis

What is it about?

The expanding shark fin market has resulted in intensive global shark fishing. With 90% of teleost fish stocks over-exploited, sharks have become the most lucrative target, but as predators, they have high ecological value, are sensitive to fishing pressure, and are in decline. At the same time, the secretive nature of the fin trade and difficulties obtaining relevant data, make it impossible to know how many sharks actually remain. Shark fin is a luxury item in consumer countries, and rich consumers pay high prices with little interest in sustainability or legal trade. Thus, market demand will continue to fuel the hunt for sharks and those accessible to fishing fleets are increasingly endangered. Current legal protections are not working, as exemplified by the case of the shortfin mako shark. Claims that sharks can be sustainably fished under these circumstances are misguided. To avert a catastrophic collapse across the planet’s aquatic ecosystems, sharks and their habitats must be given effective protection. We recommend that all sharks, chimaeras, manta rays, devil rays, and rhino rays be protected from international trade through an immediate CITES Appendix I listing.

Featured Image

Photo by Gerald Schömbs on Unsplash

Photo by Gerald Schömbs on Unsplash

Why is it important?

It is important to recognize the facts behind shark fishing, which are what this paper presents. Many people insist that sustainable shark fishing is a realistic goal, but those defending sustainable shark fishing are not defending it against unsustainable shark fishing, but against effective protection for sharks. The motive is to continue to benefit from the shark fin trade, even though the large predators supplying that trade are increasingly threatened with global extinction. The shark fin trade is out of control and unsustainable.

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