Fisheries

Overfishing and bycatch escalates shark extinction risk

2024-12-10T11:30:00

The image shows a Bluntnose Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus griseus) off Puget Sound, USA

Source: Greg Amptman

A landmark study published in Science reveals that overfishing has caused shark and ray populations to plummet by over 50% since 1970, severely impacting ecological balance and elevating extinction risks.

The study, which developed the first aquatic Red List Index (RLI), shows a 19% increase in extinction risk for chondrichthyan fishes, including sharks, rays, and chimaeras, highlighting how bycatch and habitat degradation further threaten these vital species.

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