Shark and Marine Conservation   In deep trouble Frequently asked questions Did you know? Dangerous to know? Endangered Sharks     In deep trouble For more than 400 million years sharks have dominated the oceans. As a species it is widely regarded as a predatory 'eating machine' that doesn't discriminate from fish or humans. This inauthentic fear has earned it a reputation as being dangerous and worthy of contempt. Sharks evolved long before dinosaurs walked the earth Shark fins are amongst the most valuable items taken from the sea Consumer demand has prompted a massive surge in its demise By 2017, 20 species of shark could be commercially extinct 100 million sharks are slaughtered each year As a result, sharks have taken on trophy-like qualities for the people that hunt and eat them. This lust for money and a taste for the exotic has landed sharks in deep trouble. Right now, sharks are among the most valuable and vulnerable animals in the sea. Massive consumer demand for shark fins and other shark related products have created an industry motivated by high return. Shark fins have become one of the world's most precious commodities reaching figures of up to $256 per pound. It was recently reported that the dorsal fin of a whale shark alone fetched $15,000 at market. It is barely surprising then that more than 125 countries around the world now trade in shark products contributing to an uncontrollable surge in the number of shark taken from the oceans. In a little over 50 years the slaughter of sharks has risen 400 per cent to approximately 800,000 metric tons per year. By 2017 it is anticipated that 20 species of shark could become extinct due to hunting, indiscriminate fishing techniques and, ultimately, man's greed. Currently more than 100 million sharks are taken from the seas each year - a rate at which they simply cannot survive. They cannot survive this onslaught because, unlike many other fish, most large sharks don't reach sexual maturity until seven years old or even later, and then only give birth to a few pups each year. Right now, they are simply being caught and killed faster than they can reproduce. Bite-Back and its supporters together can encourage consumers to make informed choices, change their habits and actively motivate and inspire establishments that sell shark products to stop. When we stop buying shark meat and fins, they'll stop fishing for it. See the campaign section for more information on how you can help reduce the trade in shark meat and other threatened species.