The northeast Atlantic is the most dangerous ocean to inhabit if you are a shark, ray or chimaera species. According to an assessment from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 26% of these species are threatened, compared with 18% globally, primarily due to overfishing.

Those at greatest risk of extinction include large sharks and rays, such as the porbeagle shark and common skate.

“From angel sharks to devil rays, northeast Atlantic populations of these vulnerable species are in serious trouble, more so than in many other parts of the world,” says Claudine Gibson, former officer for the IUCN’s shark programme, and lead author of the report. “Most sharks and rays are exceptionally vulnerable to overfishing because of their tendency to grow slowly, mature late, and produce few young.”

Legal protection for sharks, rays and chimaera species is limited, with European Union level fishing constraints afforded to only 4 out of 116 species. Basking sharks and great white sharks are legally protected and catch limits exist for spiny dogfish and porbeagle sharks, but limits are set far higher than scientists believe is prudent, the report says.

Sonja Fordham, deputy chair of the IUCN shark group, says, “Country officials should heed the dire warnings of this report and act to protect threatened sharks and rays at national, regional and international levels. Such action is immediately possible and absolutely necessary to change the current course toward extinction of these remarkable ocean animals.”

More

Atlantic sharks face extinction due to overfishing and shark-finning – Daily Telegraph

Atlantic sharks at risk due to over-fishing: study – AFP

Sharks and rays off UK shores critically endangered and facing extinction – Guardian

Image: porbeagle shark / NOAA