How does shark finning threaten white sharks?

Shark finning poses a significant threat to white sharks by directly targeting them for their fins, which are highly valued in global markets. This practice involves harvesting the lateral, dorsal, and lower tail fins, often leaving the shark to die in the ocean.12

Beyond direct targeting, white sharks are frequently caught as bycatch in commercial fishing nets and on longline hooks intended for other species. While some sharks die in these nets, survivors are often killed intentionally by commercial anglers to harvest their fins and other body parts.12

Because white sharks are apex predators that grow slowly and produce few young, they are not abundant and are highly sensitive to population loss. The removal of even a few individuals can have a profound impact on their population stability. Consequently, while international agreements like CITES and national laws—such as those in the United States—have been enacted to restrict trade and prohibit finning, the species remains vulnerable to both illegal hunting and accidental capture.132