Discover Sharks

Sharks have lived in our oceans for over 400 million years. Well before even the dinosaurs roamed the earth!

You can find them in almost every marine ecosystem on earth. Including freshwater!

ALL SHAPES & SIZES

The world of sharks is incredibly diverse. From tiny Pygmy Lantern Sharks that glow in the dark. To impressive filter-feeding Whale Sharks that can grow up to 17m long. Epaulette Sharks that use their fins to walk over coral reefs. And bizarre-looking Tasselled Wobbegong with their elaborate camouflage. The list goes on and on.

Worldwide there are over 500 species of shark, 600 skates and rays and 50 chimaera. All unique and amazing in their own ways, and perfectly adapted to the environment in which they live! Great or small, charismatic or strange - we love them all. And work tirelessly to protect them.

WHY ARE SHARKS IMPORTANT?

Without sharks marine ecosystems face an uncertain future. As do, the many human communities and economies that depend on them.

Diverse shark populations are important for:

• HEALTHY OCEANS - sharks play an integral role in keeping our ocean’s healthy. They do this by keeping other populations in check, and preying on the sick and old. This prevents the spread of disease and improves the gene pool.
  
  
• OUR WELL BEING - research shows that experiencing nature improves our well-being. Many divers relay magical experiences with sharks and indeed a shark encounter is often the highlight of any diving trip.
  
  
• THE ECONOMY - shark and ray fisheries provide jobs and income for communities across the world. The rise in ecotourism is also placing a financial value on the presence of sharks. Only by managing fisheries sustainably can we ensure these livelihoods in the future.
  
  
• GLOBAL DIVERSITY - sharks are an integral part of our natural world and support biodiversity. We’ve inherited these amazing animals and we want to pass them on to future generations.
  
  

SHARKS UNDER THREAT

Sharks have survived 5 mass extinctions. Yet, today, many species are under threat due to human pressure. Almost 1/4 of all shark species worldwide are now threatened with extinction. That makes them one of the most endangered groups of animals on our planet!

Sharks face many threats. But by far the biggest is from overfishing. They're vulnerable because they:

• ARE SLOW GROWING & LATE TO MATURE - as an extreme case the Greenland Shark can live ~400 years and doesn’t reach sexual maturity until ~150 years! Many are killed before they’ve produced offspring.
  
  
• HAVE LONG PREGNANCIES - averaging between 9-12 months. The Greeneye Dogfish has the longest recorded pregnancy at 31 months!
  
  
• PRODUCE FEW YOUNG - varying from 2 pups for the Bigeye Thresher and up to 135 for the Blue Shark. Compare this to the reproduction potential of bony fish who release millions of eggs.
  
  
• MAY NOT REPRODUCE EVERY YEAR - some species have a resting phase of 1-2 years.

Tens of millions of sharks are killed each year, causing many populations to decline at an alarming rate.

Discover more about sharks by clicking on the links below: