How does overfishing threaten shark populations?

Overfishing poses a severe threat to shark populations, driving many species toward endangerment through several primary mechanisms.12

• Targeted Harvesting and Finning: Sharks are often directly targeted for their liver oil, meat, and cartilage. A major driver is the practice of shark finning—the removal of fins for shark fin soup—which often involves discarding the shark at sea, where it dies.12
• Bycatch: Large-scale commercial fishing operations frequently catch sharks accidentally in nets or on longline hooks intended for other species. This bycatch accounts for the loss of tens of millions of sharks annually.12
• Biological Vulnerability: Sharks are particularly susceptible to population collapse because they typically mature slowly and produce few offspring, making it difficult for their numbers to rebound once depleted.2
• Ecological Impact: As apex predators, sharks play a vital role in regulating marine ecosystems. Their removal can trigger a "domino effect," leading to the overpopulation of secondary prey and the subsequent collapse of other species, such as scallops and lobsters.12

Efforts to mitigate these threats include establishing marine protected areas and implementing stricter trade regulations, such as those under the CITES agreement.1