Sharks Face Extinction

Many sharks are currently in the red, as their numbers are dwindling. Serious overfishing of sharks has put several species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, meaning that they may soon face extinction. Over 30 percent of 64 species of sharks and rays listed are endangered, while an additional 24 percent are classified as Near Threatened. The group says that sharks are “profoundly vulnerable” when it comes to overfishing because they take years to mature and produce a small number of offspring. Finning may also be a culprit in the sharks’ decrease. A complete report will be out by the end of the year detailing the sharks’ demise.