Legacy: Sharks

Shark fin soup was once an Asian delicacy reserved for the wealthy but with a growing middle class, shark fin soup is now becoming common fare at weddings, banquets and business meetings. A bowl can cost up to US $100, making the fins easily the most lucrative part of the shark. Since shark meat is … Read more

Sharks must be landed with their fins attached. The capture of commercially exploited shark species by EU vessels must be regulated under the Common Fisheries Policy, with fishing limits and quotas. Shark fisheries must be controlled wherever the EU fleet operates – in European waters and worldwide. Migratory shark species exploited on the high seas … Read more

This seasonally migratory species has a stocky body and short snout. Porbeagles are found around the world, but adjacent populations appear to be distinct. This species prefers colder waters and is, in fact, endothermic. The porbeagle shark is caught as a target and bycatch  species in commercial fisheries for its high-value meat. Directed longline fisheries … Read more

Found far from shore, the oceanic whitetip shark’s range spans entire oceans. Oceanic whitetips are now rarely seen, although previously considered one of the most widespread and abundant sharks. Oceanic whitetip sharks fall victim to the longlines and gillnets of commercial fisheries in the open ocean, both as a target and bycatch. Their large fins … Read more

Changes in legislation. Oceana works to eradicate “finning ”, cutting off fins and throwing the body overboard while the shark is still alive. This practice has increased as Asian countries demand more fins for “shark fin soup”, while also raising the price of the fins. Oceana is focused on changing European legislation to prohibit finning … Read more

This bottom-dwelling, docile species is found in a variety of habitats which include continental shelves, corals and rocky reefs, mangroves and sand flats. Nurse sharks are equipped with long barbells on their snout to locate benthic prey. Although their meat is not widely commercialized, nurse sharks fall victim to bycatch  in gillnets and longlines. Their inshore … Read more

Little is known about this typically deep-dwelling species. Like their short-finned relative, longfin makos prefer warmer water, but they are rarely encountered. This species is known to be caught as bycatch  in pelagic longline fisheries, though not as often as the shortfin mako. However, catches may be underestimated, since they are commonly misidentified as shortfin … Read more

The lemon shark is found down to a depth of about 90 meters, but pups remain in shallow water for several years. They are known to withstand changes in salinity and can even be found in fresh water. Young lemon sharks rely on protected coastal areas, which act as nurseries and are being degraded at … Read more

As the biggest meat-eating sharks, great whites average between 4 and 7 meters but have been recorded at lengths over 11 meters. Great whites, which have torpedo-shaped bodies and pointed snouts, get their name from the distinctive white coloring on their undersides. Due to severe overfishing, great whites are listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN’s … Read more