There’s plenty of data indicating the decline of sharks, but also a lack of data in critical areas. There are specific surveys of regional fisheries, some of which are cited elsewhere on Shark Savers indicating that 97 to 99% of regional populations of shark species are gone already. And there are anecdotal reports from divers worldwide that indicate sightings of sharks at all the places they could be dependably found are way down.

But, it still takes people to count populations and compare the data to historical trends to draw conclusions regarding the status of a species.

An organization that is devoted to make such determinations is The World Conservation Union (IUCN). It regularly publishes the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Currently on the Red List are 20 shark species that are Critically Endangered or Endangered, meaning that they are extremely or
very highly at risk for extinction. An additional 34 species at high risk, and another 61 species that are in trouble and close to meeting the criteria to be considered threatened. The total is 115 species are on the Red List, or about 23% of all shark species. All in danger of extinction in the next few years.

That does not mean all of the other species are out of the woods. There is just not enough data in many cases to make a determination one way or another.

Another organization charged with identifying species at risk is CITES, or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. CITES is an outgrowth of the IUCN, but is different than the IUCN in that it is an international agreement between governments. Currently, there are 172 countries that are 'parties' to CITES. CITES aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

An important step in stoping the international trade of endangered species is to agree on which species are endangered. CITES currently only has a few shark species on their list: Basking Shark, Great White Shark, Whale Shark, and the Sawfishes. As early as 2002, CITES called for broader, better management of shark fishing, recognizing that sharks were being heavily and unsustainably exploited. Unfortunately, neither CITES nor any other international body has any enforcement capability and have to get broad agreement before species are added to their list. 

For a full list of the sharks on the IUCN Red List, proceed to the next page.