Sharks play a vital role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems and their stocks are in serious trouble. Yet, more than one hundred million sharks are killed by commercial fisheries every year. They are intentionally harvested for their fins, meat, or liver oil and they are incidentally caught as bycatch in fisheries targeting other species.

Sharks are highly migratory and regularly cross national boundaries. However, outside of Antarctica, there are no international limits on shark harvest. With increasing demand for shark fin soup, and little protection, sharks worldwide are at great risk. Immediate action is needed to protect sharks.