Hunting sharks is complex, with legality varying by location and species. While no global ban exists, strict regulations, prohibitions, and conservation efforts are common. Understanding this requires examining legal frameworks, prohibited practices, and the broader ecological context. This regulatory landscape reflects growing awareness of shark populations and their role in marine ecosystems.
Global and National Regulations
Shark hunting is heavily regulated across various nations. Countries like the United States, Australia, and many European nations have established management plans for shark fisheries. These plans often differentiate between recreational and commercial fishing, with specific rules governing each. Some shark fishing is permitted under these frameworks, while other forms are banned to protect vulnerable populations.
In the United States, federal permits are required for shark fishing, and fishers must adhere to annual catch limits, gear, and size restrictions. Most U.S. Atlantic shark landings in 2023 were from healthy species like Atlantic spiny dogfish and smooth dogfish. Other nations, such as New Caledonia, have implemented broader bans, prohibiting the fishing of all shark species within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and the sale of all shark products.
Prohibited Activities and Species
The primary illegal activity concerning sharks is finning: removing a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea. The U.S. Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000 initially forbade finning by U.S. vessels in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and possession of fins without corresponding carcasses. Loopholes in this act allowed fins to be detached after landing. The Shark Conservation Act of 2010 strengthened the ban, generally requiring sharks to be landed with fins naturally attached in U.S. waters, with an exemption for East Coast Spiny Dogfish. The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act, signed in December 2022, made the sale, possession, transport, and purchase of shark fins and products illegal throughout the United States.
Beyond finning, specific shark species are globally protected or have zero retention limits in major jurisdictions due to their conservation status. In U.S. Atlantic waters, species like the shortfin mako, sandbar, silky, and porbeagle sharks have a zero retention limit, meaning they cannot be kept. Other protected species include the Great White Shark, Whale Shark, and Basking Shark, with international trade often prohibited or controlled. Fishing without proper permits, exceeding catch limits, or using prohibited gear, such as treble hooks with natural bait when targeting sharks from shore, also constitutes illegal practices.
Conservation and Ecological Role
Many shark species are protected, and their hunting is regulated, due to their ecological importance as apex predators in marine ecosystems. Sharks help maintain the balance and diversity of these ecosystems by controlling other marine animal populations. They often target sick, weak, or elderly individuals, strengthening prey populations.
Declining shark populations can lead to trophic cascades. For example, fewer sharks can increase mid-level predators, which then consume more herbivorous fish. This can cause an overgrowth of algae on coral reefs, hindering coral growth and recovery. Sharks also play a role in nutrient cycling by consuming prey and excreting waste, returning nutrients to the ecosystem. These animals face threats including overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change, necessitating protective measures to preserve their populations and ocean health.
International Treaties and Enforcement
International agreements contribute to shark protection by regulating trade and promoting conservation. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international treaty regulating the trade of over 35,000 species, including 46 species of sharks and rays. CITES classifies species into appendices: Appendix I prohibits international commercial trade for species threatened with extinction, and Appendix II controls trade under specific conditions to ensure sustainability. For example, sawfishes are listed in CITES Appendix I, banning their international trade, while species like oceanic whitetip, porbeagle, and three hammerhead species (great, scalloped, and smooth) are in Appendix II.
Despite these agreements, enforcing international fisheries laws across vast ocean territories presents challenges. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing remains a threat, subverting sustainable management efforts. Issues like flags of convenience, where vessels register in countries with lax regulations, allow operators to avoid oversight. Monitoring and surveillance capacities are often insufficient, particularly in developing coastal nations, making it difficult to apprehend illegal fishers and enforce rules.