Growing number of sharks being killed despite global regulatory changes: study

Despite widespread regulatory changes implemented to protect sharks, a recent study suggests that the rate of global shark fishing mortality has increased in recent years. The study's lead author says shark conservation efforts need to be made 'more comprehensively.'

Despite widespread regulatory changes implemented to protect sharks, a recent study suggests that the rate of global shark fishing mortality has increased in recent years.

The study, published in the journal Science, found that the total number of sharks killed from fishing increased from at least 76 to 80 million between 2012 and 2019 — and at least 25 million of them were considered threatened species.

“We were really surprised by the findings that fishing mortality did not decline. If anything, that’s slightly increased in the overall study period,” Boris Worm, a biology professor at Dalhousie University who led the study, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview Friday.

“We were very happy that we did this study because there was this false sense of security.”

Worm said the team of international researchers was interested in finding out the scope of human-caused shark deaths, given alarming estimates from experts at the International Union for Conservation of Nature that more than one in three sharks are threatened with extinction.

They were especially curious to know why the number of shark deaths seems to be going up after numerous regulations were introduced in the last few decades that aimed to improve fishing practices and prevent shark finning to reduce the mortality of sharks around the world.

Finning, Worm explained, is the “destructive” practice of cutting off the fins of sharks and then throwing sharks back into the sea. These fins are typically used in a popular dish called shark fin soup, which is a symbol of status in some Asian countries and can cost upwards of $100 per serving.