Oceanic sharks and rays have declined by over 70%
28 Jan 202128 January 2021
Last updated at 06:58
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The number of oceanic sharks and rays worldwide has fallen by 71% since 1970, according to a report by a team of scientists from around the world.
Their study finds that more than three-quarters of these oceanic species are now threatened with extinction and over the past 50 years fishing pressure has doubled and shark and ray catches have tripled.
The team assessed the risk of extinction for all 31 species of ocean shark and rays. Of the 31 oceanic species, 24 are now threatened with extinction and three shark species (the oceanic whitetip shark, and the scalloped and great hammerhead sharks) have declined so sharply that they are now classified as critically endangered.
La dramática desaparición de tiburones y rayas que los pone en camino de la extinción
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El mundo ha perdido el 71% de sus tiburones desde 1970 por la sobrepesca
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Global shark and ray populations have plummeted 71% in the past 50 years nearing a point of no return By Sophie Lewis Shark populations decimated around the world
Shark and ray populations around the world have declined a staggering 70% over the past 50 years and scientists say humans are to blame. If nothing changes, overfishing could soon wipe them out completely.
A new study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, measures shark and ray populations from 1970 to 2018, finding a 71.1% decrease. Three-quarters of the species are now threatened with extinction, and scientists say the true collapse is likely even worse than their findings.
Researchers hope the study serves as an urgent wake-up call.