Third of open ocean sharks threatened with extinction 25 June
2009 | International news release The first study to determine
the global conservation status of 64 species of open ocean
(pelagic) sharks and rays reveals that 32 percent are threatened
with extinction, primarily due to overfishing, according to the
IUCN Shark Specialist Group. The percentage of open ocean shark
species threatened with extinction is higher for the sharks
taken in high-seas fisheries (52 percent), than for the group as
a whole. “Despite mounting threats, sharks remain virtually
unprotected on the high seas,” says Sonja Fordham, Deputy Chair
of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group and Policy Director for the
Shark Alliance. “The vulnerability and lengthy migrations of
most open ocean sharks mean they need coordinated, international
conservation plans. Our report documents serious overfishing of
these species, in national and international waters, and
demonstrates a clear need for immediate action on a global
scale.” The report comes days