Shark hunting involves the capture or killing of sharks. This practice occurs worldwide, ranging from small-scale artisanal fisheries to large industrial operations. It encompasses activities for commercial gain and recreational pursuits, impacting numerous shark species in diverse marine environments.
Primary Motivations for Shark Hunting
Sharks are hunted for various reasons, primarily economic. Commercial fishing targets sharks for their meat and for their fins, a high-value commodity used in dishes like shark fin soup. Shark fins can sell for as much as $500 per pound. Other shark products, such as liver oil for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and cartilage for health supplements, also contribute to demand.
Recreational or sport fishing is another motivation, with individuals seeking the thrill of catching large marine predators. While not commercially driven, this activity adds to shark mortality. Sharks are also caught unintentionally as bycatch in other fisheries, becoming entangled in nets or hooked on lines meant for different species. This incidental capture represents a significant percentage of sharks killed annually, even when not the primary target.
Common Hunting Techniques
Various methods are employed to hunt sharks, from traditional practices to modern industrial techniques. Harpooning, a historical method, uses a long spear to strike and secure a shark, typically from a boat. This technique is more selective but less efficient for large-scale operations.
Longline fishing is a widespread modern method, deploying a main fishing line that can extend for many miles, from which thousands of baited hooks hang. Sharks are attracted to the bait and become hooked. Gillnetting involves setting large nets, sometimes miles long, that hang vertically in the water column, designed to entangle sharks by their gills as they attempt to swim through. Purse seining, while primarily used for schooling fish, can also incidentally catch sharks when a large net is deployed around a school and then “pursed” closed at the bottom, trapping everything within.
Consequences for Shark Species
Hunting has significant biological and ecological impacts on shark populations. It is a major contributor to global shark declines, with an estimated 73 to 100 million sharks killed annually. This extensive removal directly reduces population sizes, making it difficult for many species to recover due to their slow growth rates, late maturity, and low reproductive output. Consequently, numerous shark species face a heightened threat of extinction.
The removal of apex predators like sharks can disrupt the balance of marine ecosystems. As top predators, sharks regulate prey populations, influencing the health and structure of lower trophic levels. Their decline can lead to an increase in mesopredator populations, which may then overgraze or over-consume their own prey, causing cascading effects throughout the food web. This imbalance can alter habitats, reduce biodiversity, and impact commercial fisheries that rely on healthy marine ecosystems.
Global Conservation Efforts
International and national efforts regulate shark hunting and conserve populations. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) plays a significant role by listing endangered shark species, regulating their international trade. These listings require permits for trade, aiming to ensure it does not threaten the species’ survival.
Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) implement measures to manage shark catches within their areas, setting quotas and regulating fishing gear. Marine protected areas (MPAs) offer sanctuaries where sharks are shielded from fishing pressures, allowing populations to recover and thrive. Scientific research informs these policies by providing data on shark populations, migration patterns, and fishing impacts, guiding the development of effective conservation strategies.