HOW MANY SHARKS ARE KILLED EACH YEAR?
EACH YEAR, 100 MILLION SHARKS ARE KILLED GLOBALLY
Each year, an estimated 100 million sharks are killed globally—driven by demand for their fins, meat, oil, and cartilage, as well as from unintentional capture as bycatch. Around 73 million of these deaths are linked directly to the shark fin trade, largely to supply shark fin soup in certain global markets. In addition, shark byproducts are often found in cosmetics, health supplements, and processed foods—frequently without proper labeling. Destructive fishing practices such as longlining, gillnetting, and bottom trawling not only kill millions of sharks but also damage marine ecosystems. This unsustainable pressure is pushing many shark species toward extinction, threatening the health of the entire ocean.
100 MILLION
SHARKS KILLED EACH YEAR
SHARK POPULATIONS IN STEEP DECLINE
Shark Finning
Shark finning is one of the most destructive practices threatening shark populations worldwide. It involves cutting off a shark’s fins—often while the animal is still alive—and discarding the rest of the body back into the ocean. Without their fins, sharks are unable to swim properly, sinking to the seafloor where they die from suffocation, blood loss, or predation. This wasteful and cruel practice is driven largely by demand for shark fin soup, a delicacy in some cultures. Because only the fins are kept, shark finning leads to the killing of millions of sharks each year with minimal nutritional or economic return. This unsustainable exploitation is pushing many shark species toward extinction, disrupting marine ecosystems and threatening the balance of our oceans.
Shark Targeted Fisheries
Targeted shark fisheries are a major threat to global shark populations, driven by increasing consumer demand for shark meat, fins, cartilage, and liver oil. Unlike bycatch, these fisheries intentionally hunt sharks for commercial sale, often supplying international markets where shark products are used in food, traditional medicine, cosmetics, and dietary supplements. Many of these fisheries operate with little regulation or oversight, leading to unsustainable catch rates that severely deplete local shark populations. Because sharks grow slowly, mature late, and produce few offspring, they are particularly vulnerable to overfishing. Continued pressure from targeted shark fishing is pushing several species toward endangered status and disrupting the health and balance of marine ecosystems.
Bycatch
Bycatch remains a critical and often overlooked threat to shark populations. Every year, millions of sharks are unintentionally caught in fishing gear—such as nets, longlines, and bottom trawls—designed to target other commercial fish species like tuna or swordfish. Because sharks are not the intended catch, they are frequently discarded, injured, or already dead by the time they are pulled from the water. Many fisheries do not report or properly manage shark bycatch, leading to significant underestimation of its impact. This silent killer contributes heavily to the decline of numerous shark species, especially those already vulnerable due to slow growth and low reproductive rates. Reducing bycatch through better fishing practices, gear modifications, and stricter regulations is essential for the survival of shark populations worldwide.
Habitat Destruction
Beyond the pressures of fishing, sharks face increasing threats from habitat destruction and environmental changes. Coastal development damages critical shark habitats such as mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds—areas vital for feeding, breeding, and protection. At the same time, plastic pollution fills the oceans, harming sharks directly through ingestion and entanglement, and indirectly by disrupting the food web. Climate change adds even more stress: rising ocean temperatures and acidification are altering marine ecosystems, shifting prey availability, and affecting shark migration and behavior. These environmental changes make it harder for shark populations to survive and recover, compounding the dangers already posed by overfishing and bycatch.